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Committee advances bill allowing optional off‑campus religious instruction with parental consent
Summary
SB112 would let local school boards authorize released‑time religious instruction for K–12 students, provided parental consent, instructor qualifications, and financial separation from public schools. Lifewise and other advocates testified in support; amendments clarified instructor background checks and constitutional safeguards.
Senator Hodges introduced SB112, a bill that would permit — but not compel — local school boards to adopt policies allowing K–12 students to participate in off‑campus religious instruction during the school day with parental consent. Hodges described the program as voluntary, requiring student safeguards and a full financial separation between public schools and providers.
Ian Lake, chief of staff at Lifewise Academy, told the committee Lifewise operates released‑time programs nationwide and that the organizations provide services off campus without public funding. "Our programs at Lifewise are community driven," Lake said, adding that Lifewise serves more than 1,000 schools in 37 states and that outside evaluations reported attendance and behavior improvements in participating districts.
Former State Senator Derek Shepherd and other supporters said the program could be offered at times that avoid conflicts with students' core instruction and transportation needs; Shepherd emphasized local flexibility in schedule and implementation. Committee amendments led by the vice chair clarified instructor qualifications (background checks and adherence to school reporting standards), allowed electronic delivery where appropriate, and reaffirmed constitutional protections to avoid entanglement between church and state.
Members asked practical questions about schedule conflicts, transportation responsibility and how credit or grades would be reported. Shepherd said local districts would set schedules and that the courses would "allow that flexibility to meet the needs of that particular school district." Senator Hodges said the program is intended to expand access to religious instruction for families who cannot afford private school options and asked the committee for favorable passage of the amended bill.
The committee reported SB112 as amended. Next steps include consideration on the House floor and potential district implementation rules if the bill becomes law.
