Required religious release policy for schools pushed at Statehouse hearing

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There is a new effort at the Ohio Statehouse to ensure religion can be taught to public school students during the school day, bringing out more than 100 supporters to testify in favor of its passage.

“It would help me affirm my beliefs and it would help everyone else with that same thing and their mental health,” Johnstown-Monroe Public Schools seventh-grader Caleb Reed said.

“Released time,” as currently defined in state law, means “a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious instruction conducted by a private entity off school district property.”

Although already in state law, it only permits schools to adopt a policy; it does not require it. That is why Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) brought forward House Bill 445, to change existing law from “may” to “shall adopt a policy.”

“About 75% of schools already have policies; however, there are some school districts that don’t have policies and this will fix that problem,” founder and CEO of LifeWise Acedamy Joel Penton said.

LifeWise Academy already has programs in schools across Ohio to teach Christianity through a released time program.

“Before- and after-school programs are great, Sunday school is great; however, many, many parents want their children to receive bible school education during school hours,” Penton said.

But some, like Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), question the need for such a law.

“For as long as there’s been education in the state of Ohio, children have been able to, and their parents, have been able to figure out how to get them to religious-based trainings after school, around their schedules,” Antonio said.

Under both the current and the proposed law, the course must be taught by a private entity off of school district property, and parental consent is required. Students who participate would also be responsible for any missed schoolwork.

“I think we need to be mindful and sensitive to the need of all kids, but at the same time, there still is a separation of church and state,” Antonio said.

But parents and students who advocate for the bill, like Caleb and Cindy Reed, said the lift would not be that heavy.

“In essence, Caleb would’ve gone once a week during his lunch and recess at his and my choice to do that,” Cindy said. 

The Reed’s school board at Johnstown-Monroe recently voted not to have a released time program. NBC4 did ask for a statement, and the district directed us to its October board meeting where the issue was addressed.

During the meeting, board president Tim Swauger said board members hear and understand the concerns of parents and “these are not easy decisions.” Swauger ultimately argued that students are only in class for so many hours a year so, “any minute that affects or impacts those make it very difficult,” for him to approve that measure.

It was a sentiment Antonio agreed with.

“Anything that takes kids out of their school day concerns me, for sure,” she said. “If we’re going to see our kids succeed in their academic studies, we need to prioritize that for their school day. There’s a lot of other time available after school, on weekends, to be able to pursue private, individual pursuits for sure.”

“I have too many things competing for after-school programs,” Caleb said.

If enacted, the bill would not only apply to Christianity courses. Any religion would be able to implement an off-campus released time program.

The bill now awaits its next hearing and opponent testimony.