Released Time Bible Instruction Expands to 34 States, Reaching 100K Students

August 25, 2025

LifeWise Academy has announced that nearly 100,000 students will participate in Bible-based character education during school hours in the 2025-2026 school year.

Christianity Daily reports that the academy, which works with public schools to integrate a Bible class into their weekly class schedule through release time religious instruction (RTRI), is reporting its highest ever enrollment.

A fact sheet distributed by LifeWise, indicates that 44,438 students were enrolled in the program last year and claims that, “LifeWise will serve students in more than 1,100 schools, nearly double the amount from the previous school year.”

The program hopes to expand availability to all 50 million public school students and has seen the number of states where LifeWise provides off-campus religious instruction grow from 27 to 34.

LifeWise Academy CEO Joel Penton told the Christian Post that the organization’s record growth is “thanks to the homegrown support of communities throughout America.”

Penton added, “When a community collects 50 signatures saying they’d like to start a local LifeWise program, we work with them to bring it to fruition. Our staff will help them work with school districts, develop plans and launch the program.”

According to Christianity Daily, a poll taken among 1,000 register voters earlier this year was conducted by RMG Research for LifeWise Academy.

That poll showed strong support for religious instruction during the school day with 78% backing “teaching moral and character education” and only 13% expressing opposition.

67% of respondents affirmed their support when asked it they would like to see public school students have access to “Bible-based character education available for public school students.”

Photo: top, Credit: Facebook/Lifewise Academy