Release time for religious instruction began for participating students at Montrose Elementary in accordance with new Board policy Monday, Jan. 12.
Religious instruction is provided by LifeWise Academy, a nonprofit non-denominational Christian organization.
The pilot program is being offered to students in grades three through five at Montrose with plans to expand to Cassingham and Maryland Elementary for first through fifth graders as soon as possible, according to the LifeWise website.
Montrose Principal Nyesha Clayton explained LifeWise instructors pick up students at the beginning of lunch and walk them to COhatch, a community work and meeting space on Main Street.
At COhatch, LifeWise instructors teach a curriculum which is designed to guide students through the Bible over the course of their time in the program, according to the LifeWise website.
Superintendent Jason Fine said the Board policy was developed after the passage of Ohio House Bill 8, which required districts to create a policy permitting religious release.
He added the district is not endorsing any particular religion.
“We are required to work cooperatively with LifeWise or other such organizations,”
Fine said. “However, we will not promote or sponsor their program.”
Clayton said she has heard from parents who are worried about maintaining separation of church and state as well as families in favor of the policy.
“You’re always going to have families that agree and families that have concerns,” she
added.
Clayton said she appreciates families’ interest and is willing to discuss the policy with anyone who reaches out.
She added Bexley was one of the last districts in Ohio to implement a religious release policy.
The constitutionality of religious release time has been affirmed by the United States Supreme Court multiple times.
However, district personnel and resources cannot be involved, the instruction must be privately funded and off of school property, and parental permission is required.
Fine said the policy was written to ensure participating students don’t miss lessons, which is why religious instruction can only take place during lunch and recess.
“Such a requirement should keep participating students’ learning opportunities the same as their non-participating classmates,” he explained.
According to the Board policy, background checks must be completed for all adults involved in the instruction, and attendance must be taken during the religious instruction and made available to the district.
Ensuring the safety of students is a top priority, Clayton said.
“We make sure that our safety procedures and protocols are in place so that we ensure those students’ safety while they are outside of the building,” she added.
Published and digitized February 2026.
