As set by the Supreme Court case Zorach v. Clauson, Released Time for Religious Instruction, or RTRI, is time allowed for students to be released from public school during public school hours to receive religious instruction at an institution located outside of school grounds.

Organizations must adhere to the following criteria: The program must be opt-in, not opt-out, with parents or guardians giving permission for their children to participate. The program may not use public school funds or resources in any way or circumstance. Students may not miss core classes School officials must not solicit or recruit pupils for religious instruction; no promotion, endorsement, or publicizing of the released time program by school officials is allowed. The program must be held off-site, not on any portion of school grounds.

Yes! While the Supreme Court has upheld the legality of RTRI programs (Zorach v. Clauson, 1952), participation by schools is voluntary, and public schools are under no obligation to accommodate. Schools may refuse if RTRI disrupts operations, compromises instructional time, or raises constitutional concerns. It is worthy of note that the State of Washington currently has no state-wide legislation regarding RTRI.

No. We support the rights of families to practice their religious freedom, and occasionally make use of RTRI. Examples such being excused from school to participate in the religious holidays of Ramadan and Yom Kippur, and to leave school early to attend religious services which start as the sun sets earlier in winter, are just a few good uses of RTRI by individual families. We oppose systemic RTRI programs, operating during public school hours, which are designed for maximum disruption of the maximum number of students during the school day.

We firmly believe in the separation of church and state, and the sanctity of our public schools. Public schools must be bastions of acceptance and inclusivity, fostering guided exchanges of ideas and learning. They must not advance any religion over another, nor promote the idea that one must even have a religion. Groups like LifeWise, Weekday Religious Education, the Satanic Temple’s HAIL program, and others not only disrupt the business and routine of the school day, but by design also sanction “othering” through discrimination, intimidation, and bullying. Programs such as these target elementary school children well below the age of discernment, and prey upon their innocence and enthusiasm, encouraging them to proselytize to their friends and classmates. Students are given incentives like ice cream parties for increasing attendance numbers. Such organizations subscribe to a specific worldview, none of which follow Washington state education policies for diversity and inclusion. And, while RTRI programs claim to be privately funded, they often rely on public resources. For example, schools may be required to adjust schedules, staff to manage attendance or transportation, or administrators to handle program logistics. These activities divert taxpayer-funded resources away from their intended purpose—supporting public education.

LifeWise is a national RTRI program based out of Ohio. While they claim they are a nondenominational Christian bible education program, their curriculum was created by an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. With ties to Moms of Liberty, Project 2025, The Heritage Foundation, Christian Nationalism generally, and hate group The Family Research Council specifically, they view public school children as “mission fields” and hold a pointedly narrow worldview.

LifeWise’s stated and documented goals are to disrupt public schools as much as possible. Their aim is to erode the separation of church and state, defunding public schools, siphoning off funds and redistributing them to private religious schools. The west coast has few LifeWise chapters, and Washington is seen as a proving ground; if they can succeed in a “liberal and blue state,” they’ll have made the case for more donations furthering their program across the nation.

RTRI programs may disrupt classroom learning by pulling students out during instructional time, forcing teachers to adjust lesson plans or reteach material. This creates an unequal educational experience for students who remain in class, as they must pause progress or revisit concepts to accommodate those who participate in RTRI. Non-participating students often experience disruptions in their learning environment. There have been documented cases in which non-participating students are simply not given any instruction - sent to the gym, given extra math problems, or they play video games in the library. Teachers may delay or repeat lessons to accommodate absences, creating inequities in educational opportunities. Additionally, non-participants might feel excluded or stigmatized, fostering divisions within the student body.

While not federally mandated, thorough background checks are critical for RTRI programs to ensure student safety. Cases like the alleged sexual misconduct with a student of a LifeWise Academy director highlight the risks of inadequate screening. Failing to vet employees and volunteers can jeopardize student safety, expose schools to legal liability, and harm community trust. Important: LifeWise Academy background checks do not check state-level child abuse databases, and thus would not flag prior activity within those systems. Schools should require RTRI programs to conduct comprehensive background checks and provide documentation. Clear policies and strict enforcement help protect students and maintain compliance with local safety standards.

School districts accommodating RTRI programs may face liability risks such as potential violations of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause if the program appears to endorse or facilitate religious activity. There is also a risk of discrimination claims from students who feel excluded or treated unequally, as well as negligence claims if students are harmed during release time. Additionally, using taxpayer-funded resources to support RTRI programs may lead to legal challenges for misappropriation of public funds. To mitigate these risks, districts must remain neutral, avoid involvement in religious activities, and ensure that RTRI programs do not disrupt the educational environment or use public resources improperly.

RTRI blurs the lines between public education and religious instruction by introducing religious practices into the public school framework. Even indirect school involvement, such as facilitating student participation, may give the appearance of state endorsement of religion, violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

Students have the right to practice their religion freely. However, RTRI programs prioritize religious instruction at the expense of public education. Ensuring that public schools remain focused on inclusive, secular education protects the rights of all students, regardless of their faith or lack thereof. Further, public schools can respect religious freedom by ensuring a neutral, inclusive environment where all students feel welcome. Allowing voluntary religious practices outside school hours ensures that education remains secular while protecting students' rights to practice their faith privately.

Educate the community: Share information about the potential negative impacts of RTRI on education and constitutional principles. Engage with school boards: Attend meetings, voice concerns, and advocate for policies that prioritize secular education. Collaborate with like-minded groups: Partner with organizations that promote separation of church and state. Support litigation, if necessary: Legal challenges may be appropriate if RTRI programs violate constitutional protections. Support legislation: Talk to legislators about the importance of maintaining the separation of church and state, and encourage them to draft laws which protect public school students from religious indoctrination.

Religious instruction can occur before or after school, on weekends, or during school breaks without disrupting public education. These options ensure that students can pursue religious activities without imposing on the public school system or other students.