Attorney General Reaffirms Right to School Released Time for Religious Instruction

COLUMBUS—This week, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost released a letter reaffirming the religious liberty rights of students to receive religious instruction during the school day.

The letter is in response to the Freedom From Religion Foundation, an out-of-state lobbying group, discouraging Ohio public schools from starting or continuing “released time” programs for students to briefly leave during the school day to receive private religious education.

"As Ohio’s Attorney General, I want to reassure you that Ohio law takes into account all relevant constitutional issues, and that you are free to follow Ohio law to best serve the needs of your community," Yost writes.

The following statement is from Center for Christian Virtue President Aaron Baer:

"Once again, Attorney General Dave Yost is ensuring that Ohioans are not only free to live out their First Amendment rights, but are encouraged to do so.

"Thank you for sending a strong message that the bullying and intimidation tactics by organizations like Freedom From Religious Freedom will not be tolerated in Ohio, especially against our schools, students, and the ministries that support them.

"I also want to thank the tireless staff and volunteers running programs like LifeWise Academy, founded by Joel Penton, and School Ministries Ohio, headed by Jenni Laursen, for giving our children a firm foundation of faith, hope, and love to sustain them for a lifetime."

Read AG Yost's full letter here.

Read his 2019 opinion on religious released time here.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. Direct media inquiries to media@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

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