🚨 INDIANA: New State Initiative Blurs Line Between Government and Religion Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has signed an executive order creating the “Indiana Faith-Based Institutions Initiative,” to be run through Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s office. On paper, the initiative claims to address real societal challenges — addiction recovery, prisoner reentry, mentoring youth, foster care, and… Read More

This is how normalization happens. We’re documenting a growing trend across the country. As Released Time Religious Instruction expands, we’re increasingly seeing civic institutions — chambers of commerce, local awards groups, and community organizations — publicly framing these programs as “community service” nonprofits. That framing deserves scrutiny. Based on public records and independent reporting, LifeWise… Read More

IOWA🚨 A federal judge just issued a warning about political pressure in public education. A federal judge in Iowa declined to block disciplinary proceedings against two teachers over social media posts — but the language in the ruling is raising serious concerns. The court described the state’s actions as “deeply troubling,” noting that: “A licensing… Read More

🚨ARIZONA ALERT: HB 2266 is on the Move! The Arizona House of Representatives has officially passed HB 2266, and the bill is now heading to the State Senate. This isn’t just a minor update—it is a fundamental shift that undermines local control of our public schools. 🔍 WHAT’S IN THE BILL? We’ve analyzed the text,… Read More

Behind every map, research post, and legislative update we share, there are actually two spaces working together. Our private community is where families and educators connect, share experiences, and support one another. It’s where people talk honestly about what they’re seeing in their schools and communities. But our public work is where research, policy tracking,… Read More

Public Schools Week may be wrapping up, but this is something we believe every single day of the year. Public schools aren’t just buildings.They’re one of the last places in America where kids from completely different worlds sit at the same table. In a single classroom you might find students who are:ChristianMuslimJewishHinduBuddhistSikhAtheistAgnosticOr still figuring it… Read More

🧭 National Watch: Why this matters beyond one state A charter school proposal in South Dakota failed this week after a tie vote in the state Senate. While this isn’t a Released Time Religious Instruction story, it still intersects with the broader issues we track at the Secular Education Association. Our focus has always been… Read More

🌆 Ohio Watch: Cleveland school assemblies spark church–state concerns A new report from Ideastream News highlights a developing situation in Cleveland that raises important questions about religion in public schools. A local pastor has been touring Cleveland Metropolitan School District schools as a motivational speaker focused on attendance. According to the article, some students and… Read More

This is the part people don’t always see. We do national work — researching, documenting, and connecting the dots. But we are not in every school.Every town.Every boardroom. And the truth is: Most violations are uncovered locally. Because:• A parent asks questions• A teacher saves documentation• A resident files a records request• A community member… Read More

⸻ 🚨 LOUISIANA ALERT: SB112 (Released Time Religious Instruction) Louisiana just introduced SB112, a bill that would create the state’s first law explicitly allowing Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI). Here’s what it does — and why it matters. 🟡 It’s a “may” bill.SB112 wouldn’t mandate release time, but it would formally codify RTRI into Louisiana… Read More

🚍 A small fundraiser that raises bigger questions We recently came across a local fundraiser in Collierville, Tennessee — an affluent Memphis suburb — where an individual is raising money to obtain a CDL to transport students for a released-time religious instruction program. On its own, a CDL fundraiser isn’t unusual. But the broader context… Read More

🚨 LOUISIANA ALERT: SB112 (Released Time Religious Instruction) A new bill has been introduced in Louisiana that would create the state’s first law explicitly allowing Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI). Here’s what SB112 actually does — and why it matters. 🟡 First, this is a “may” bill.SB112 allows local school boards to adopt a released-time… Read More

We’re seeing increased public scrutiny around lawmakers who are shaping religion-in-schools policy in Ohio. State Rep. Gary Click has been a key figure in advancing released-time legislation and other religion-related initiatives impacting public education. As conversations continue, one thing remains essential:Transparency. When elected officials shape policies that affect public schools — especially at the intersection… Read More

NEW RESOURCE: RTRI State Law Map is LIVE 🇺🇸 For years, one of the biggest sources of confusion around Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) has been this simple question: “Is this even legal in my state?” The answer isn’t simple — because release time laws vary widely across the country. So we built something new.… Read More

📄 Ohio Districts Received New Guidance on Religious Release Time Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent guidance to every Ohio school district addressing Released Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) and religious activity in public schools. The letter outlines how districts can:✔ Limit instructional disruption from released-time programs✔ Maintain legal boundaries around religious clubs and adult involvement✔… Read More