# LifeWise Academy

LifeWise Academy is an interdenominational American educational program founded in 2018 as a free program that provides Bible education for public school students during school hours under released time laws. LifeWise Academy states that it is aligned "with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs as expressed in the Nicene Creed."

## History

LifeWise Academy was founded in 2018 by Joel Penton, a former Ohio State defensive lineman, as a division of his nonprofit ministry Stand for Truth. The organization was inspired by the weekday religious education program in his hometown of Van Wert, Ohio, in 2012. It is a division of a division of Stand for Truth that promotes Christianity in public schools. Penton has described public schools as a "mission field."
The organization is based in Hilliard, Ohio. As of 2024, the organization operates with paid employees in 30 states, and by the end of the year is projected to be in over 600 public schools districts in 30 states.
LifeWise Academy programs receive funding from local churches, private donors bringing in $6.5 million in fiscal year 2023, $13.8 million in fiscal year 2023, and $35.3 million in fiscal year 2024.
Being an ecumenical organization, LifeWise Academy states that it is aligned "with historic, orthodox Christian beliefs as expressed in the Nicene Creed." With regard to varying theological opinions in Christianity, the Lifewise curriculum informs its "teachers to say there are different churches and that sincere Christians have different views on these topics" and because of Christian denominational differences, it focuses on common teachings that are shared by the major Christian denominations. The founder Joel Penton noted that Lifewise Academy had teachers from various Christian denominations, including evangelicals and Catholics.
In December 2023, Lifewise Academy purchased a 23,000-square-foot facility, formerly Aquatic Adventures, in Hilliard, Ohio to serve as a training and conference center. Penton plans to name a training room after Jim Tressel, who raised funds for LifeWise in 2023.
In 2024, LifeWise Academy launched the first Oklahoma program at Tahlequah Public Schools. The organization currently operates in 30 states.

## Programming

LifeWise Academy operates under released time for religious instruction laws which were upheld in the 1952 US Supreme Court ruling, Zorach v. Clauson. This ruling allowed a school district to allow students to leave school for part of the day to receive religious instruction. However, three requirements needed to be met: classes are off school property; it's privately funded; and students participate with the permission of their parents. Release time programs are traditionally locally run and managed, whereas LifeWise Academy is a franchise model working with local steering committees to advocate for the program in their districts, including running for school board.
Programs are staffed by a director, teachers and volunteers, who help transport students and assist in classrooms as needed, paid by LifeWise Academy.
LifeWise Academy's curriculum is based on The Gospel Project, a Bible study program produced by LifeWay Christian Resources designed for elementary schools as a five-year program covering the full Bible. High school programs offer high school or college credits. In Ohio, the instruction can't take place during a “core curriculum” subject, often meeting at the same time as art or music classes, library periods, or during lunch.

## Reception

Implementing LifeWise programs have divided communities with some parents feeling it was inappropriate for public schools to implement religious studies. Other concerns include the possibility for children unenrolled in the program not receiving instruction during the time other students attend LifeWise's programs and that the program is unequitable for children of other faiths. Non-evangelical Christians have expressed concern about messages found in LifeWise materials, particularly around topics like marriage, divorce and the LGBTQ community.
A Fall 2023 study by Indiana consulting firm Thomas P. Miller & Associates found that schools that use LifeWise have improved attendance and fewer suspensions. The report quoted Shalonda Likely-Roach, a principal in Columbus City Schools, saying she had witnessed improvements, including higher grades, increased school attendance and fewer disciplinary actions among students who participate in Lifewise. The validity of the study's methodology has been questioned by Honesty for Ohio Education.

### Among Christians

In 2021, Doug Garand, a Catholic priest of St. Augustine Parish in Napoleon, Ohio urged parishioners not to participate in or financially support the program, fearing the LifeWise curriculum could draw children away from the tenets of their Catholic faith. Peter Marcis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio regretted that "all clergy in the community were not brought together to work out the details." On the other hand, Karissa Rutkowski, coordinator of Catholic religious education at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Van Wert, "has never been told that someone who participated in the LifeWise classes stopped going to the parish religious-education program as a result."
The socially conservative Family Research Council praised LifeWise Academy for its expansion and repeating Lifewise claims that students in the program performed well on exams and had better class attendance. LifeWise was a sponsor for Turning Point USA's 2024 summit.

### Parents Against LifeWise

In 2023, Parents Against LifeWise was formed by parents who had seen detrimental effects for their children who did not participate in the program. Initially they raised awareness about increased bullying, unsupervised "study hall" during LifeWise programming, disruptions to curriculum, and lack of background checks. They also found that a LifeWise worker was a former teacher whose license was revoked on allegations of sexting with a minor. LifeWise fired the worker, blaming the worker for a lack of disclosure.
In July 2024, LifeWise sued Parents Against LifeWise administrator and former LifeWise program volunteer Zachary Parrish for copyright violations after he put LifeWise's training materials and bible study curriculum online. In December 2024, the copyright lawsuit was settled; settlement terms dismiss the lawsuit against Parrish and require him to destroy all digital and physical copies of LifeWise's bible study curriculum, while LifeWise is required to provide access to its full bible study curriculum for 48 hours at a time upon request. Parrish said the settlement was a win, since parents were previously unable to see the curriculum.
In March 2024, another Ohio parent, Keith Comer, launched a website called "Respect Public Schools" with a map of school districts with LifeWise Academy operations, as well as statistics and other information about the program. The organization sent Comer cease and desist letters and threatened felony charges.

## School policies
### Indiana

In 2024, Indiana pass legislation filed by Kendell Culp to require schools to allow released time religious instruction after a school stopped cooperating with LifeWise.

### Ohio

In 2022, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools rescinded their released time policy, citing student instructional time as the primary concern. The program has since been blocked by at least four other districts.
In 2023, objection letters were dispatched to around 600 school districts in Ohio by atheist organization Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), expressing concerns about the endorsement of LifeWise's released-time Bible classes. The organization had been contacted by Ohioans who were concerned about how large-scale released time religious programs can negatively impact educational goals and that students have a First Amendment right to be free from religious indoctrination. The letter highlighted the goal of LifeWise to convert students, and reported a complaint that a student not participating in the program was assigned additional homework. Other complaints have documented instances of LifeWise volunteers promoting the program in school classrooms, assemblies, and in paperwork sent home to parents.
In 2024, Eaton Community Schools in Preble County ended their three year after-school program through LifeWise rather than transition to a school day program. LifeWise founder Penton describes the Eaton program as "experimental," and there are no other before or after school programs.
Following the objection letters, Ohio Attorney General David Yost released a statement reaffirming his stance of the legality of LifeWise programs as long as they follow Ohio law. Lieutenant governor Jon Husted promoted the program within his official capacity as an elected official. LifeWise lobbied for the 2024 bill introduced by Ohio representatives Al Cutrona and Gary Click that would require schools to permit released time religious education, also supported by First Liberty Institute and Ohio Christian Education Network and signed into law by Mike DeWine.