10/10/2026
All across the country, "a battle is brewing over the future of public education— At the center of the storm is LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Christian organization that wants to pull public school students out of class during school hours for off-campus Bible instruction.
LifeWise Academy operates under a little-known 1952 Supreme Court ruling, Zorach v. Clauson, which allows public school students to be released during school hours to attend religious instruction—provided it’s voluntary, privately funded, held off campus, and requires parental consent.
According to its website, LifeWise promises to “help your public school student grow in character with Bible education during school hours,” claiming the program increases student attendance and decreases suspensions . The organization has expanded rapidly, now serving nearly 100,000 students across 1,100 schools in 34 states.
LifeWise personnel are not subject to the same rigorous background checks as public school employees . Public schools typically require FBI and state background checks for all staff, but LifeWise operates under different standards.
The curriculum itself has raised eyebrows beyond just the question of religion in schools. LifeWise uses “The Gospel Project,” a curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. But the concerns go deeper than denominational differences. The curriculum has been described as presenting a literal interpretation of the Bible, teaching that there are only two genders and that LGBTQ+ identities represent a “rejection of God”.
Critics fear this is only the beginning. “First you get on the school board. Then you create a program that pulls kids out of school and into churches. Then you have them alone, away from teachers and administrators. This isn’t about protecting children. It’s about controlling them,” said one Porterville resident."
Now is the time to become aware of this troubling trend that is sweeping the country and its affiliation with Christian nationalism, a dangerous ideology that twists the doctrine of most mainline Protestant faith traditions.
Ready to learn more? Check out the resources below!
https://pastorsforncchildren.org/.../opposition-to.../
Article excerpted from: https://paulfloreswriter.wordpress.com/.../the-battle.../