Public school students have the right to go off campus during school hours to learn the Bible, and engaged parents are working with school districts across America to set up programs for this express purpose. In light of the unprecedented challenges our children face today, Bible-based character education is gaining steam with appropriate urgency.

Accordingly, we need to stand up for our kids in our state, and we can get it done right now with the help of elected leaders in the Oklahoma House.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, educators have expressed alarm over the surge of problematic behavior among students. They’re restless, often disrespectful and struggling to pay attention. Even more concerning is that depression, suicide and anxiety are at all-time highs among kids and teens.

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Teaching Bible-based character lessons like respect, humility and love is the answer, and schools that have such programs are already showing results.

When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld this practice in 1952, they specified that students could receive religious instruction during the school day provided that it doesn’t happen on school grounds, is privately funded, and parents approve of their child’s participation.

As an example, LifeWise Academy — which started in 2018 to help parents take advantage of this opportunity — has surged from just two schools in Ohio to over 323 schools in 12 states, serving over 30,000 K-12 public school students. An extensive Thomas P Miller study reveals that the kids enrolled in LifeWise are better behaved in class, have better attendance and are more likely to excel academically.

Parents know this works, which explains why an RMG Research poll found that over three-quarters of Americans are supportive of moral and character education in public schools.

So, what’s the problem?

Lawsuits and threats of lawsuits are creating significant barriers, and Oklahoma parents and schools need legal clarity on how to get set up and run such programs. Without clear laws to guide the process, released time programs struggle to navigate complex rules, and they are often forced to shut down or are prevented from getting started altogether. It should be straightforward for parents to incorporate religious instruction into their child's day if they choose.

In Oklahoma, however, it’s not.

States spanning the political spectrum — like Tennessee, New York and Oregon — have already passed laws to fix this problem, and Indiana just passed such a law a month ago. But unfortunately, Oklahoma doesn’t currently offer any clarity or protections, which is why a handful of school districts in our state have been sued.

Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and other key state senators, public schools and families are about to get the support they desperately need. Oklahoma House Bill 1425 clarifies the process for operating a constitutional released time religious program, empowering communities across the state. The Oklahoma Senate passed HB 1425 in a decisive 38-7 vote .

Now, the Oklahoma House has the ball, and it’s up to House Speaker Charles McCall and House floor leaders to get us this important bill, co-authored by Reps. Clay Staires and Kevin West, over the finish line.

Our kids are our most precious resource, and they’re being bombarded by negative influences. Let’s make sure that by the fall semester of 2024, Oklahoma parents have the choice to expose their kids to what is good, true and honorable.

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