Off-Campus Religious Instruction: A Growing Trend in Public Schools
In recent months, federal courts have dealt a series of blows to conservative efforts to display the Ten Commandments in public schools. However, many states are exploring alternative routes to faith-based education by allowing students to attend off-campus religious instruction during school hours. This approach, known as “released time,” has gained momentum in several states, including Iowa, Montana, Ohio, and Texas, which have passed laws guaranteeing parents the right to have their children excused for free, off-campus religious instruction.
At least 12 states now require school districts to offer released time religious schooling upon parental request, including Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wisconsin. This approach may be more likely to pass constitutional muster than other government-imposed religious efforts, as it shifts influence off school grounds and under the direction of faith-based groups rather than public school teachers. The 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Zorach v. Clauson allows for released time religious instruction as long as it’s off school property, privately funded, and parent-permitted.
How Released Time Works
With parents’ approval, public school students sign out of school during a lunch, recess, or study hall block and attend off-campus religious instruction, often at a local church or community building. The instruction typically lasts for a half or full hour, after which students return to their public school to finish the day. In some states, students can earn academic credit for the off-campus instruction, although this has been more controversial. For example, in Montana, legislation that would have required school districts to develop policies for academic credit was amended to “authorize” a district to allow credit, after pushback from the state’s school boards and school administrators associations.
Supporters of released time argue that it provides parents with more control over their children’s education and allows students to explore their faith without compromising the separation of church and state. Jennifer Jury, a program advocate for LifeWise Academy, an Ohio-based Christian nonprofit, noted that “not every family has access to private or parochial school, but for many generations, families have been able to take their students out of school for a portion of the day for religious education if they choose.”
Controversies and Criticisms
Despite the growing trend of released time, some critics argue that it can be used to promote a particular religious agenda and undermine the separation of church and state. Others argue that it can be unfair to students who do not participate in the off-campus instruction, as they may miss out on academic credit or other benefits. In Texas, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery warned that the displays of the Ten Commandments “are likely to pressure [children] into religious observance” and undermine parents’ rights.
The conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has adopted model legislation on released time policies, which would allow for up to five hours per week of off-campus religious instruction and require school districts to award academic credit if the course meets certain criteria. However, similar bills have stalled in several states, including North Carolina, Mississippi, and West Virginia.
As the debate over released time continues, it is essential to consider the complexities and nuances of faith-based education in public schools. While some argue that it provides parents with more control over their children’s education, others see it as a threat to the separation of church and state. Ultimately, the decision to participate in released time should be left up to parents and students, and schools should ensure that all students have access to equal educational opportunities, regardless of their faith or background.
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