🚨OHIO🚨
🚨Clarification on NBC4’s LifeWise Coverage
This week, NBC4 ran a story suggesting that Ohio schools were now required to allow candy, toys, and trinkets from release-time religious programs like LifeWise. That’s not accurate.
👉 What actually happened:
• First Liberty’s letter focused on literature and free speech, arguing against blanket bans on all take-home items. It did not demand that schools allow candy, toys, or trinkets.
• A separate issue did arise this summer: Ohio’s biennial budget stripped districts of the ability to restrict what release-time programs send home. That means groups can now send materials back with students — but the wording of the law is “educational materials,” which is still open to interpretation.
Heres the UPDATED ORC version, not in effect yet. 👉🏻https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3313.6022/9-30-2025
✅ SEA reached out directly to the reporter to flag this confusion. We asked for a correction/clarification so schools aren’t misled into thinking they have zero authority. To her credit, she absolutely agreed and revisited the story to make the language clearer.
The news story previously stated that schools “aren’t allowed to restrict any of it.” Framing it this way inadvertently advances the very coercive tactics LifeWise relies on, rather than providing neutral clarification.
If schools come away believing they have no authority to restrict materials, it risks furthering LifeWise’s agenda rather than accurately informing districts. We know that isn’t the intent, but the wording blurred the line between reporting and advocacy.
When “First Liberty” and “candy/trinkets” get lumped together, it gives the false impression that the Constitution protects the right to hand out lollipops. That’s inaccurate reporting — and it risks setting a dangerous precedent for schools. This matters because what looks like a small detail in the news can snowball into bad policy for our public schools. Accuracy REALLY counts.
📢 SEA will keep monitoring and speaking up whenever misleading narratives about LifeWise and release-time programs pop up.
* pictured is the updated news article, the updated ORC language, as well as Columbus City Schools exisiting policy. For example they would need to remove “any materials” and clarify “other items” to still theoretically comply.
What people are saying:
- Facebook User: So they can or they can’t send stuff home. I read it a couple times and I’m not really getting it.
- Facebook User: Amanda Marie Berry same, it’s still confusing
- Secular Education Association: Amanda Marie Berry NBC4’s story made it sound like Ohio schools must let LifeWise send home candy, toys, and trinkets. ❌ That’s not true.
👉 What’s real:
• First Liberty’s letter was only about literature/free speech. It didn’t demand candy or toys.
• Ohio’s new budget law says schools can’t fully block LifeWise handouts anymore — but it only mentions “educational materials.” What that means is still fuzzy.✅ SEA asked the reporter to clarify so schools don’t think they’ve lost all authority. She agreed and updated the story.
⸻
So, what counts as “educational materials”?
Schools probably can’t block:
• Workbooks, worksheets, and lesson papers
• Bible story handouts or scripture sheets
• Flyers/brochures about the programSchools likely can block:
• Candy, toys, prizes, trinkets
• Stickers, bracelets, t-shirts, or other merch
• Pure giveaways that aren’t tied to instruction⚖️ Gray area: Coloring sheets with Bible verses (probably allowed), toys with Bible verses (probably not), candy with a flyer attached (arguable).
👉 Bottom line: Schools still have authority to restrict non-educational junk. The NBC4 framing made it sound like anything goes, but that’s not the law.
We hope this helps some!
- Facebook User: Amanda Marie Berry The issue isn’t with sending things home- the issue is with them sending things back from the “class” – including things to share with classmates.
- Facebook User: Secular Education Association that literally violates freedom of religion if promotional flyers are being sent into public schools with students.
- Facebook User: But the schools CAN require those things are kept in backpacks amd lockers…as they do with things bring from home.
- Secular Education Association: Facebook User absolutely!
- Facebook User: Facebook User like schools have time and personnel to do that😂😂😂
- Facebook User: Facebook User they do it now..kids bring things from home and they have to keep them in their lockers or backpacks
- Facebook User: Facebook User bet they would like to stop. I say cancel the whole
lifewise shit
all together
- Facebook User: Thank you for your advocacy!
- Facebook User: People, I know it may be home, but get out of Ohio!
- Facebook User: Nothing like making it okay for pedophiles to entice children with gifts and candy.
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