DeKalb County Central United School District received a strongly worded letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation on behalf of Northern Indiana Atheists (NIA) and district parents warning them about their relationship with LifeWise Academy, a released time bible study class in which children would be bussed from their schools to another location—during school hours—unsupervised by school staff. Under Indiana law, schools may excuse a student to participate in religious instruction at a church or church school upon receiving a written request from a parent.

The Supreme Court has found it unconstitutional for schools to foster, require, or encourage participation in these programs by making them an official part of the school curriculum or by punishing students who do not attend the program by not offering them alternative instruction.

A public school may not in any way promote or otherwise show favoritism toward religion. It is a basic principle that the First Amendment requires governmental neutrality between specific religions and between religion and nonreligion.

This means the school district cannot:

Expend public school funds and resources for the program
Encourage participation in the program
Treat the program as an official school elective
Use public school facilities or resources during school hours for released time programs, including allowing a bus, trailer, or other vehicle to be parked on school grounds for the program
Punish students who do not attend the program
Allow released time instructors to solicit student participation during school hours or at school-sponsored events

At the beginning of 2023, not only did DeKalb County Central School District use school resources to promote LifeWise Academy, they emailed parents and guardians of their students asking for feedback on the LifeWise Academy released time bible study class.

Facilitating and promoting these religious classes inappropriately and needlessly alienates the students and families who practice a minority religion as well as those students who are a part of the 49 percent of Generation Z who are religiously unaffiliated. By promoting LifeWise’s two classes and putting school resources toward facilitating these bible classes, the district is sending a clear message that favors religion over nonreligion and that it favors those students who subscribe to a particular brand of Christianity over members of all other faiths or no faith.

FFRF’s legal department has requested that the DeKalb County Central United School District inform them in writing of the steps they are taking to ensure the District complies with the Constitution. We will update this story when that happens.

If you think your school may be violating the separation of church and state, please use our website form to report the violation.

NIA is a nonprofit established to fight state/church violations on a local level and defend the rights of atheists and other marginalized communities across Northern Indiana.

Membership is open to atheists and our allies who share our vision for a government that represents all people equally and our passion for serving our community. Your membership and donations amplify our voice and makes our impact even stronger. Become a member today at NorthernIndianaAtheists.com.

NIA and FFRF Warn DeKalb County Schools About Bible Classes