We, the undersigned residents, parents, and community members, formally oppose the implementation of LifeWise Academy or any similar religious instruction programs conducted during public school hours.

While we support the freedom of religion and the right of families to pursue faith-based education on their own time, we have serious concerns about the impact and legality of removing students from core academic instruction during the public school day.

Our concerns include, but are not limited to:
1. Academic Impact and Accountability
LifeWise programs remove students from school during instructional hours, causing them to miss essential coursework in math, reading, science, and other core subjects.

There is no clear plan or accountability framework for addressing academic decline if students begin to struggle due to missed instruction.
Teachers are not provided additional resources or time to remediate lessons students miss.
This places an unfair burden on both educators and students and risks widening achievement gaps.
2. Unequal Educational Opportunity
Students who do not participate remain in class, while participating students receive a fragmented education. Public schools are meant to provide equal access to instruction, not tiered learning experiences based on religious participation.

3. Circumvention of Church–State Separation
Although LifeWise instruction occurs off school grounds, it takes place during publicly funded instructional time, creating a loophole that effectively integrates religious programming into the public school schedule.

This blurs the constitutional boundary between church and state.
Public schools should not structure their day around religious instruction of any kind.
4. Precedent and Community Division
Allowing one religious program during school hours opens the door for others, creating logistical, legal, and cultural conflicts within the school system and community.

Our Position
Religious education should remain voluntary, privately organized, and conducted outside of school hours, where it does not interfere with a child’s academic development or the neutrality of public education.

We respectfully urge school boards and local officials to reject the inclusion of LifeWise Academy or similar programs during the public school day.