HB 8 Changes Religious Release Time
BY TOM HACH
STATEWIDE - On January 8, 2025, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law HB 8, known as the Parents' Bill of Rights, which was passed by the Ohio General Assembly during the 2024 Lame Duck session in December. Language in HB 8 strengthened Ohio's existing Release Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) law by requiring school boards to work with third parties offering RTRI programming.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to offer religious instruction during the school day to public school students in grades kindergarten through 12th. The legal basis of this trend is the 1952 Supreme Court decision in Zorach v. Clauson, which allows school districts to permit students to leave school to receive religious instruction with certain requirements.
Consistent with the Zorach v. Clauson decision, HB 8 requires three criteria be met for RTRI programs: the courses must take place off school property, be privately funded, and the students must have written parental permission. School boards in Ohio are required to develop new policies reflecting the changes in HB 8 by April 9, 2025.
One organization offering RTRI programming is LifeWise Academy, which is a non-profit headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, and offers free, bible-based instruction during the school day to public school students. LifeWise, founded in 2019, currently has programs in over 520 schools across 26 states, including Ohio, and has an enrollment of over 40,000 students. In response to HB 8 being signed into law, LifeWise stated, “All Ohio families have the freedom to choose off-campus religious instruction during school hours for their students.”
To understand the impact of their programming, LifeWise worked with Thomas P. Miller & Associates to conduct a study -- LifeWise Academy Outcomes Report, . From the study, “data indicates that in the first year…a school's attendance rate increases. From the second year on, schools...see improvements in discipline.” And as a result, “Classrooms should experience less disruptions, which should improve the learning environment” for all students.
With the passage of HB 8 into law, it is expected the number of RTRI programs at the 600+ school districts in Ohio will increase. Additionally with the success of LifeWise Academy, other RTRI programs may become available providing additional options consistent with the HB8 legislation.
