COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Schools updated its religious release time policy to declare that organizations must agree not to send students back to school with snacks or trinkets.
The district voted unanimously Tuesday at its board of education meeting to update its religious release time policy to ban organizations from sending students back with souvenirs. The change comes just weeks before Ohio's Parents' Bill of Rights goes into effect, which will require all public school districts to have a religious release time policy on the books. See previous coverage of the Parents' Bill of Rights in the video player above.
Release time for religious instruction allows short-term absences for religious instruction during the school day as long as it happens off school property, uses no public school resources and is done with parent permission. Columbus City Schools and many other public schools have permitted it for some time, but by early April, every Ohio public school district will be required to have a policy.
Ohio data shows 90% of voucher students aren't low incomeThe district adopted its first policy in May 2015, but its updated version adds restrictions. Participating organizations must agree not to provide students with any materials, snacks, clothing, candies, trinkets or goodies for their return to the school.
"Out of concern for coming back with a pile of gifts from the sponsoring entity and how that could be disruptive to the classrooms and the educational experience, we did opt to include that language," said board member Sarah Ingles, chair of the board's policy and governance committee.
Organizations must also provide the district with criminal background checks for all instructors and volunteers. Ingles said it includes language requiring sponsoring organizations to pay for these background checks at no cost to the district, which was recommended to the board.
The policy also clarifies that students cannot be required to change their schedules to attend programs.
Hilliard-based LifeWise is Ohio's largest religious instruction program and one of the biggest in the nation. Parents and activists who disapprove of the Christian-based organization often condemn the distribution of trinkets and candy given to students, which they say can make students who aren't participating feel left out or pressured to attend.
Bill would extend working hours for teensLifeWise CEO and Founder Joel Penton said the new policy will have little effect on the organization, which already requires background checks among volunteers.
"Families choose LifeWise because they believe Bible-based character education has a positive impact on their children," Penton said. "The new requirement does not change their reason for sending them to LifeWise."
Molly Ann Gaines, a leader with the Secular Education Association (previously Parents Against LifeWise), celebrated the district's decision.
"Not being permitted to send back treats or trinkets is an important step, we believe it should apply to every school LifeWise is in," Gaines said. "This weakens their ability to coerce nonparticipating children. It's a matter of protecting all students from unnecessary division and the feeling of being left out."
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