We request that the Oldham County School Board reject the offer to enter into a partnership with LifeWise Academy, which is asking to offer religious instruction during the school day.

Background: 

Kentucky Citizens for Democracy has concluded that the proposal to enter into an agreement with LifeWise Academy is egregious for the following reasons:

• Religious instruction is not the mission of the public schools.
• The Board is supposed to advance public education.
• LifeWise Academy’s founder and supporters are proponents of school choice and vouchers.
• LifeWise Academy mission is to reach the “unchurched” using public school as its “mission field”. We oppose using schools in this manner.  
• LifeWise Academy model sees children 4 to 14 as impressionable and targets for religious instruction. We see this as a form of indoctrination using the public schools as a vehicle.
• Data presented to the Board by the proponents of LifeWise Academy is not peer-reviewed and fails basic research methodology.
• The proposal to pull children from related arts is unacceptable as is pulling students from lunch or recess. Devaluing these is not acceptable.
• The curriculum was developed by an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. This religious instructional model reflects one strand of the many branches of religious belief structures. This is inherently discriminatory.
• The adoption of this program would lead to school culture problems: bullying or coercion to attend for those children who are opted out.
• The use of incentives which LifeWise Academy is reported to use is also problematic.
• The LifeWise Academy guidance on how to handle difficult questions from children is controversial and troubling. It’s an affront to families in our community who have different or no religious beliefs. Responses regarding LGBTQ and transgendered persons as well as unwed or divorced parents are equally as troubling. 

Kentucky Citizens for Democracy believes that this proposed partnership is in conflict with the democratic principle of the separation of church and state. Church attendance in the US is falling and religious right leaders are working to find ways to advance their agendas and numbers. Public schools have a different mission. As stated from the Oldham County School District Strategic Plan’s Student Pillar: Students access learning in a safe and supportive environment, feel valued as individuals, and contribute to a culture of belonging where differences are accepted. 

The LifeWise Academy proposal is contradictory to that stated mission. 

We encourage Oldham County residents to sign this petition which will be shared with the school board before the August 25th meeting.