{"id":47829,"date":"2025-10-16T10:27:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T14:27:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/?page_id=47829"},"modified":"2025-10-23T11:13:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T15:13:57","slug":"rtri","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/rtri\/","title":{"rendered":"Release time"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"47829\" class=\"elementor elementor-47829\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-881a5a6 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"881a5a6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0a31ef6 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0a31ef6\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-3fcdc77 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3fcdc77\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0566d0 white-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b0566d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Protect learning time for every student<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3d89e2 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e3d89e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Say NO to Release Time policies because public schools should educate all students equally \u2013 whether they are religious or not.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-799c0e6 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-laptop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"799c0e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/secure.au.org\/a\/flu?_gl=1*t6nt5i*_gcl_au*MTgxNjM5MzIzLjE3NDUyNDQyNjg.\" title=\"Take Action\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">CTA<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-996b663 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"996b663\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;slideshow&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_gallery&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:29543,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/08\\\/pg-4-8-A-GettyImages-1500076821-e1740581898819.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:14492,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/public-school-classroom24-2.26.24-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:11607,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/06\\\/public-library-father-and-son-6.20.23-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:11374,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/05\\\/teacher-with-kids-5.16.23-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1361,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/classroom20students2C2011.29.21-e1740581941467.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1369,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/11\\\/public20school20students2028elementary2920.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2455,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/03\\\/schoolkids20with20bus20cropped_1-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:2118,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/diverse20school20kids201.10.20-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:1511,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/07\\\/school20kids20at20bus_0-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:29711,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/09\\\/microscope-students-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:15394,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/06\\\/school-classroom-11.7.22-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:14672,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/science-class-students-3.20.24-scaled.jpg&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:14118,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.au.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/young-person-in-library-1.23.24-scaled.jpg&quot;}],&quot;background_slideshow_ken_burns&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_duration&quot;:2500,&quot;background_slideshow_loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_transition_duration&quot;:500,&quot;background_slideshow_ken_burns_zoom_direction&quot;:&quot;in&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-f8364ae e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f8364ae\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e4e996 elementor-view-framed bounce-arrow elementor-shape-circle elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon\" data-id=\"0e4e996\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-icon\" href=\"#overview\">\n\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a6ffabd e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a6ffabd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9edcb1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"f9edcb1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"overview\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f92b7e0 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"f92b7e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot; religious education&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:2000,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Release time is a policy that lets public school students leave school to take<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\"> religious education<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-f2e5120 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f2e5120\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-894c3a2 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"894c3a2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-913eb2f black-text-link elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"913eb2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although the Supreme Court has ruled that release time can be legal, <strong>schools do not have to offer these programs.<\/strong> They can cause a lot of problems:<\/span><\/p><ul><li><strong>No kid ever wants to feel \u201cleft out.\u201d<\/strong> So students often feel pressure from classmates, teachers, or school leaders to go to religious classes.<\/li><li>Release time programs like LifeWise encourage students to pressure their peers into attending with <strong>promises of candy, pizza, and other rewards.<\/strong><\/li><li>Students who don\u2019t go will frequently miss real learning time like being given busy work or nothing to do instead.<\/li><li>Students who are not part of the majority religion may not have a program that fits their beliefs at all.<\/li><li>Dividing public school classrooms along religious lines can lead to alienation and bullying.<\/li><li>There is plenty of time before or after school and on weekends for families to send their kids to religious activities they choose without impacting or pressuring others.<\/li><li>Public schools are supposed to be a safe, welcoming place for <strong>ALL<\/strong> our kids, not a recruiting ground for LifeWise Academy or others pushing one specific religious belief on them.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-103ac94 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"103ac94\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54c57e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"54c57e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-5.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-48061\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-5.webp 940w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-5-300x251.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-5-768x644.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-2e9cf34 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2e9cf34\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ab9396 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6ab9396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-star\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-608873b e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"608873b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-97f0f62 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"97f0f62\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4c85ff elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"e4c85ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;it shouldn&#039;t&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:2000,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Release Time exists, but<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">it shouldn't<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe8c71f black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe8c71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">But because the Supreme Court okayed it years ago,<br>parents and activists need to work harder to oppose release time. <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a06f73f black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a06f73f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Supreme Court decided back in <a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.justia.com\/cases\/federal\/us\/343\/306\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1952<\/a> that public schools can release students during the school day for private religious education without violating the separation of church and state.<\/p><h4><strong>But release time IS a problem for church-state separation.<\/strong><\/h4><p>Release time classes exploit laws all states have requiring students to attend public school. Those laws are meant to ensure that kids get an education and become productive members of society, but release time advocates take advantage of mandatory attendance to entice kids out of normal instruction and into religious classes.<\/p><p>It\u2019s not just that kids are lured by these groups into release time, it\u2019s that they otherwise might not go. In other words, students wouldn\u2019t sign up for private religious instruction if they weren\u2019t already forced to be at the public schools and enticed with getting out of class and receiving treats. We know this because Sunday schools, Bible studies for kids, Vacation Bible School, and all kinds of other religious education classes for kids exist, but we still see Christian Nationalist groups pushing for release time classes.<\/p><p>And the reality of implementing release time programs is this: students feeling left out, pressured to attend religious classes, and left learning nothing while their peers are out of school.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-14fe96f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"14fe96f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27fcdd0 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"27fcdd0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-star\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-6abb076 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6abb076\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5781e02 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"5781e02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;sneaky methods&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:2000,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Release time programs like Lifewise Academy use<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">sneaky methods<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">to get students to join. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-fbec234 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fbec234\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-82698f8 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"82698f8\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dcc2ea black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5dcc2ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is Lifewise Academy?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcbd1f8 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcbd1f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>LifeWise Academy is an organization that provides Bible classes to public school students during the school day using Release Time. <strong>They use candy, toys, and pizza parties to encourage enrollment.<\/strong><\/p><p>LifeWise Academy claims to be \u201cnon-denominational, character-based bible education\u201d but the organization is using a curriculum based on the \u201cThe Gospel Project\u201d \u2013 a Bible study program produced by LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing house for the Southern Baptist Convention.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This video, courtesy of the <a href=\"https:\/\/seculareducationassociation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Secular Education Association,<\/a> also shows that release time programs have higher enrollment because kids are joining to get out of class.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c00c080 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"c00c080\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/g2ga7YHm9uU?si=qopkv7Ie4kwWDmVr&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-51e874e e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"51e874e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-205743c e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"205743c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a3bb83 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6a3bb83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LifeWise Academy claims not to promote the discrimination of students who don\u2019t attend their classes, but this video, courtesy of the Secular Education Association, shows how their \u201ccharacter education\u201d pits \u201cgood\u201d kids who love church against \u201cbad\u201d kids who don\u2019t \u2013 teaching exclusion, not unity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This video also shows LifeWise instructors associating behaviors of neurodiverse students as \u201cspiritually bad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-577dc63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"577dc63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/fsTD14fGFIs?si=edy5cfKP0ayFMh7P&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a1c58b5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a1c58b5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9402830 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"9402830\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-star\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e283da8 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"e283da8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;problem&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:2000,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Release Time is a<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">problem<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-23fdfbb e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"23fdfbb\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-81843a3 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"81843a3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f495cf9 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f495cf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Release time is allowed but it's not required<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b0a85f black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b0a85f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Release time creates situations that pressure public school children into religious classes during the school day. It\u2019s a church-state separation problem, but because the Supreme Court has okayed it, <strong>people like you are the best solution.<\/strong><\/p><p>The Supreme Court did not require schools to allow release time. When parents and families and students and activists push back, they can keep release time classes out of the public schools and prevent their school communities from being divided along religious lines.<\/p><p><strong>Religious freedom means families should be deciding when and how children engage with religion.<\/strong> Parents can choose from hundreds of options for religious instruction that don\u2019t take time away from public school classes or create friction and division in public schools.<\/p><h4><strong>Limits on release time<\/strong><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court gave the green light to release time, but<strong> there are limits and restrictions. <\/strong>AU has intervened many times and stopped religious freedom violations involving release time programs in public schools. Limitations on release time include:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release time classes cannot occur on school property<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School resources, including transportation, cannot be used to promote or facilitate release time classes<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School staff and officials cannot push, encourage, or promote release time classes<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School staff and officials cannot participate in or review student work produced in release time classes<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parental consent is required to attend release time<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students cannot be punished for refusing to attend<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-75400a4 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"75400a4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0755798 black-text-no-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0755798\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">AU is fighting back against release time violations<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-551e0d9 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"551e0d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At AU, we&#8217;ve seen and stopped many violations, including:\u00a0<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release time classes being held in trailers parked in the school parking lot.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why it\u2019s a violation:<\/strong> trailers in a school parking lot are<\/span> on school property.<\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Principals sending letters to every family supporting release time programs.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why it\u2019s a violation:<\/strong> school staff and officials cannot promote release time classes or use school resources to promote them.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schools bussing students to release time classes and reviewing student work done at release time classes for the purpose of offering elective credit.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why it\u2019s a violation:<\/strong> Schools cannot use school resources to promote release time programs or give credit for work done in release time classes.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers prohibiting nonparticipating students from reading, doing homework, or engaging in any other activity during release time program time.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Why it\u2019s a violation: <\/strong>students cannot be punished or penalized for refusing to attend.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df15633 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"df15633\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-6.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-48062\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-6.webp 940w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-6-300x251.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Virtual-Meeting-Real-Talk-6-768x644.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-dd0e1e3 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"dd0e1e3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2596fa elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e2596fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-star\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d53d3b2 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d53d3b2\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-c4e41d7 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c4e41d7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f569d5d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f569d5d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Top 10 FAQs about Release Time<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d349ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-n-accordion\" data-id=\"4d349ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;default_state&quot;:&quot;all_collapsed&quot;,&quot;max_items_expended&quot;:&quot;multiple&quot;,&quot;n_accordion_animation_duration&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;ms&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:400,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"nested-accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-n-accordion\" aria-label=\"Accordion. Open links with Enter or Space, close with Escape, and navigate with Arrow Keys\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8090\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8090\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What is release time? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-94bcea5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8090\" data-id=\"94bcea5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-9bad668 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8090\" data-id=\"9bad668\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68b538c black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"68b538c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release time policies\u2014also known as released time or release time religious instruction (RTRI) &#8211; allow public school students to leave school property during the school day to receive religious instruction. Students must leave the public school campus, and the instruction must be provided by a private group.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8091\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"2\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8091\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> If removing the Bible from public education harmed students, why isn\u2019t release time a good solution? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-8a4e7af e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8091\" data-id=\"8a4e7af\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-e8e7ca1 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8091\" data-id=\"e8e7ca1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26f03e8 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26f03e8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The U.S. Constitution imposes strict limits on teaching about religion in public schools. Public schools can teach factual information about religion, including as part of an objective lesson in literature, history, and civics classes. But they are constitutionally prohibited from providing devotional instruction or promoting religion. Even if a release time policy does technically meet constitutional requirements, it\u2019s a bad idea because \u2013 kids often feel pressured to participate, it disrupts learning, and it privileges the majority faith.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8092\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"3\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8092\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Are release time programs unconstitutional? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0d0e358 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8092\" data-id=\"0d0e358\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-df6a3de e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8092\" data-id=\"df6a3de\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-663c396 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"663c396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not necessarily, but the U.S. Constitution imposes strict limits on teaching about religion in public schools. For example, public schools can teach factual information <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> religion, including as part of an objective lesson in a literature, art, history, or civics class. But they are constitutionally prohibited from providing devotional instruction or promoting religion. Release time policies must meet specific constitutional safeguards: classes cannot take place on school grounds, no public funds can be spent in support of the program, schools can only accommodate student schedules, and school officials cannot promote the program or coerce students to attend. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8093\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"4\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8093\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> If it\u2019s legal, what\u2019s the big deal? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ddee28c e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8093\" data-id=\"ddee28c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-87327e7 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8093\" data-id=\"87327e7\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4d7491 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d4d7491\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if they do meet constitutional requirements, release time programs are bad policies that can lead to real-world harms: students may feel pressured to participate by peers and school personnel; students who stay behind often end up in study halls or doing busywork; and students outside the majority religion rarely have the same options.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are examples of teachers and school administrators pressuring students to attend release-time programs <\/span><b>to ease their teaching burden,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> prohibiting the students who aren\u2019t participating from doing schoolwork or any other activity while the rest of the class attended a release-time course, or having students who don\u2019t attend end up in study hall.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">S<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tudents, particularly those of minority faiths or who are nonreligious, may face questions, peer pressure, or bullying from fellow students.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students who belong to a <\/span><b>minority religion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> often don\u2019t have access to release-time programs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release-time programs also often incorporate treats and social time into the program \u2013 leaving students who don\u2019t participate feeling like they\u2019re missing out on an extracurricular activity.<\/span><\/li><li aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents have reported instances of their children questioning their family\u2019s faith or voicing regrets that they don\u2019t belong to the majority faith because the kids feel like they\u2019re missing out on social activities that may occur during release time.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8094\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"5\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8094\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Should states require every district to adopt release time? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ac075ff e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8094\" data-id=\"ac075ff\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-10fc9ad e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8094\" data-id=\"10fc9ad\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e1bfecb black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e1bfecb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>No.<\/strong> Forcing every district to adopt release time will only magnify the problems that already exist. Mandates also undercut local control and force schools to spend scarce time restructuring schedules, tracking attendance, and managing conflicts \u2013 even where communities don\u2019t want or can\u2019t support a release-time program.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8095\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"6\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8095\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Why shouldn\u2019t students receive academic credit for release time? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-ea6ac83 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8095\" data-id=\"ea6ac83\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-2831de4 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8095\" data-id=\"2831de4\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7bde0c black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7bde0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Offering academic credit for release-time programs creates additional pressure for students to participate and essentially hands control of instruction for credit to a religious group.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8096\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"7\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8096\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Doesn\u2019t release time just \u201caccommodate\u201d families who want religious education? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0b44350 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8096\" data-id=\"0b44350\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-503931f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8096\" data-id=\"503931f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af06e7e black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"af06e7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Families are free to pursue religious education <\/span><b>outside<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the public school day. Embedding it into the school schedule \u2013 even off campus \u2013 gives it a special advantage<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and reshapes the day for everyone else, including students who do not or cannot attend and teachers who must work around a disruption in the school day.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8097\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"8\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8097\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> Release time only affects students whose families choose to participate, right? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-84ab20f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8097\" data-id=\"84ab20f\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-a36c8b1 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8097\" data-id=\"a36c8b1\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6071f28 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6071f28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>No.<\/strong> Students who don\u2019t participate in release time often lose instructional time or are sent to study hall. They also may face questions, peer pressure, or other kinds of social exclusion for not going \u2013 especially if teachers or coaches praise or expect participation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8098\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"9\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8098\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> How does release time affect students from minority faiths or nonreligious students? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-4db0f71 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8098\" data-id=\"4db0f71\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-0d57f04 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8098\" data-id=\"0d57f04\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e4ede3 black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e4ede3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These students are the <\/span><b>least likely<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to have a release-time program that reflects their beliefs, and the <\/span><b>most likely<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be singled out or pressured to join another religion\u2019s release-time class \u201cto fit in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<details id=\"e-n-accordion-item-8099\" class=\"e-n-accordion-item\" >\n\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title\" data-accordion-index=\"10\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e-n-accordion-item-8099\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-header'><div class=\"e-n-accordion-item-title-text\"> What should I do if my school district is considering a release-time proposal? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='e-n-accordion-item-title-icon'>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-opened' ><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class='e-closed'><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-b63b7fc e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8099\" data-id=\"b63b7fc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-74e9033 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"e-n-accordion-item-8099\" data-id=\"74e9033\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a1eeb2c black-text-link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a1eeb2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the resources on this page to educate your school board and urge them to vote <\/span><b>no<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> where the law allows. If your state law forces school boards to consider release-time programs, petition your school board to<\/span><b> insist on the following safeguards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ol><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Release-time classes do not take place on school grounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No public funds are expended in support of release-time programs.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schools do no more than accommodate student schedules.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School officials do not promote the program or coerce students to attend.\u00a0<\/span><ol><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coercion does not just mean school employees forcing or telling students to attend; it can also be giving students who don\u2019t attend extra assignments or study hall that could be viewed as punishment for non-attendance.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No credit for release time.\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public schools must not provide any logistical support beyond accommodating schedules, including providing transportation to the release-time programs.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-05e8a1a e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"05e8a1a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-695f599 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"695f599\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-star\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-763fbc2 elementor-headline--style-highlight elementor-widget elementor-widget-animated-headline\" data-id=\"763fbc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;marker&quot;:&quot;underline_zigzag&quot;,&quot;highlighted_text&quot;:&quot;public schools&quot;,&quot;highlight_animation_duration&quot;:2000,&quot;headline_style&quot;:&quot;highlight&quot;,&quot;loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;highlight_iteration_delay&quot;:8000}\" data-widget_type=\"animated-headline.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-plain-text elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">Learn more about how AU is protecting<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-wrapper elementor-headline-text-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-headline-dynamic-text elementor-headline-text-active\">public schools<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-031477f e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default elementor-invisible e-con e-child\" data-id=\"031477f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68ef959 elementor-grid-4 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-card-shadow-yes elementor-posts__hover-gradient elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"68ef959\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;cards_columns&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;cards_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;cards_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_laptop&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;cards_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.cards\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-cards elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-47662 latest type-latest status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry issue_tax-churches-and-elections issue_tax-discrimination-in-name-of-religion issue_tax-lgbtq-rights issue_tax-schools-and-learning issue_tax-school-sponsored-prayer issue_tax-the-rights-of-religious-minorities issue_tax-the-separation-of-church-and-state issue_tax-white-christian-nationalism latest_type-wall-of-separation\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/trump-dump-au-lawsuits-know-your-rights-guide-and-campaigns-to-stop-trump-attacks-on-religious-freedom\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-47663\" alt=\"President Trump at Religious Liberty Commission meeting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/trump-RL-Comm-sept-8-2025-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/trump-dump-au-lawsuits-know-your-rights-guide-and-campaigns-to-stop-trump-attacks-on-religious-freedom\/\">\n\t\t\t\tTrump Dump: AU lawsuits, \u2018Know Your Rights\u2019 guide and campaigns to stop Trump attacks on religious freedom\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-47589 latest type-latest status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry issue_tax-schools-and-learning latest_type-wall-of-separation\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/good-apple-award-oklahoma-appleseed\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2106\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-47590\" alt=\"AU attorneys Alex Luchenitser and Luke Anderson in Tulsa, Okla., in September 2025 for Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law &amp; Justice&#039;s Good Apple Awards.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-1024x842.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-768x632.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-1536x1264.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Alex-Luchenitser-Luke-Anderson-Good-Apple-Award-OK-Sept.-2025-cropped-2048x1685.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/good-apple-award-oklahoma-appleseed\/\">\n\t\t\t\tAmericans United honored with &#8216;Good Apple Award&#8217; in Oklahoma\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-46536 latest type-latest status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry issue_tax-schools-and-learning issue_tax-religious-discrimination-in-schools issue_tax-school-sponsored-prayer issue_tax-teaching-religion-in-public-schools issue_tax-the-rights-of-religious-minorities issue_tax-white-christian-nationalism latest_type-wall-of-separation\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/religious-liberty-commission-school\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1668\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-40288\" alt=\"Trump announces Religious Liberty Commission during National Day of Prayer ceremony May 1, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-1024x667.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Trump-NDP-Religious-Liberty-Commission-EO-5.1.25-2048x1334.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/articles\/religious-liberty-commission-school\/\">\n\t\t\t\tReligious Liberty Commission to distort threats to religious freedom in public schools\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-41635 press type-press status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry issue_tax-schools-and-learning issue_tax-the-rights-of-religious-minorities issue_tax-vouchers issue_tax-why-people-of-faith-support-church-state-separation\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__card\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/faith-private-school-vouchers-congress\/\" tabindex=\"-1\"><div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-41631\" alt=\"At a rally in front of the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2025, Rabbi Robert Barr, a member of AU&#039;s Faith Advisory Council, joins faith leaders in speaking out against the inclusion of a private school vouchers scheme in Trump&#039;s &#039;big beautiful&#039; budget bill.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Rabbi-Robert-Barr-vouchers-Capitol-June-2025-crop-2048x1341.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/the-latest\/press\/faith-private-school-vouchers-congress\/\">\n\t\t\t\tFaith leaders demand Congress reject private school vouchers scheme\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-bb50281 e-flex e-con-boxed ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"bb50281\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-83f4a8a e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"83f4a8a\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-d3b2ac5 e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d3b2ac5\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa13e35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aa13e35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-27872\" alt=\"Student preparing to go to school after summer holidays holding books and notebooks standing next to the school bus.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/child-near-school-bus-8.5.24-scaled-e1740582179651-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"has_ae_slider elementor-element elementor-element-2117f8b e-con-full e-flex ae-bg-gallery-type-default e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2117f8b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95cb5a3 white-text-link elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"95cb5a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Help us protect every student's class time<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03c5ad6 elementor-mobile-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"03c5ad6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/secure.au.org\/a\/flu?_gl=1*t6nt5i*_gcl_au*MTgxNjM5MzIzLjE3NDUyNDQyNjg.\" title=\"Donate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Join Us Today<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protect learning time for every student Say NO to Release Time policies because public schools should educate all students equally \u2013 whether they are religious or not. CTA Release time is a policy that lets public school students leave school to take religious education Although the Supreme Court has ruled<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"issue_tax":[11],"class_list":["post-47829","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","issue_tax-schools-and-learning"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47829"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47829\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47829"},{"taxonomy":"issue_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.au.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_tax?post=47829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}