Wait… since when do public schools offer “Bible electives”?

This week Jackson-Madison County Schools posted about LifeWise Academy bringing “Bible-based electives” to local schools.

The headline actually comes from the district’s own Superintendent Chronicle, an official publication of the school system.

The article even states the program is “approved by each school’s principal,” which further blurs the line between a private religious program and something being offered by the school itself.

But programs like LifeWise are not school electives. They are privately run religious instruction programs operating under released-time laws. That means they are supposed to be:

• privately run
• held off campus
• not part of the public school curriculum
• attended only with parent permission

The Supreme Court allowed released-time programs in Zorach v. Clauson, but only if public schools remain neutral and do not promote the religious instruction. 👀

That principle is reinforced in federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, which explains that schools may not sponsor, encourage, or appear to endorse religious activity. 👀

When a district advertises a program like this and describes it as a “Bible elective,” it blurs the line between allowing private religious activity and endorsing it.

Public schools serve students of every religion — and students with none at all.

Neutrality matters

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