🚨In this article, Jason Ellis examines Boone County School Board’s decision to decline a proposal from LifeWise Academy, which sought to remove students from class during the school day for weekly Bible instruction under Kentucky’s new “moral instruction” law.

What makes this article stand out is its focus on consistency and neutrality in public education.

Ellis draws a clear comparison between the aggressive push to eliminate DEI programs—often criticized as “ideological” or “divisive”—and the simultaneous expansion of LifeWise, which is also ideological and explicitly religious. If neutrality is the stated goal for public schools, he argues, then programs that privilege any single worldview deserve the same level of scrutiny.

The piece also raises two critical issues SEA consistently flags:

• Parental rights — “opt-in” programs can still create social pressure and exclusion for students whose families do not share the dominant belief system
• Constitutional risk — facilitating religious instruction during the school day blurs the line between accommodation and endorsement, creating legal exposure for districts

Boone County’s decision reflects an understanding that public schools are not the place to elevate one ideology—religious or otherwise—over others.

If lawmakers are serious about neutrality, fairness, and protecting all families, that standard has to be applied evenly. This article does an excellent job of explaining why.

🔗 https://linknky.com/opinion/2025/12/29/opinion-if-theres-no-room-for-dei-in-ky-there-cant-be-room-for-lifewise-either/

📖 This is an important and thoughtful piece worth your time, especially if your district is being asked to consider released time programs. 👀

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