The London City School District has long allowed parents to request release time for individual students to receive religious instruction off campus during the school day. In recent years, a religious organization asked the district to expand this to an organized program, though the district continued to follow its individual release policy.
Earlier this year, the passage of House Bill 8 changed Ohio law. Schools must now collaborate with sponsoring organizations that provide religious instruction outside of core instruction. In response, the Board of Education updated district policy to comply with state law this spring. The policy defines “core instruction” as all graded courses, including those with State-approved standards. The district’s policy does not endorse religion or infringe on individual First Amendment rights.
So far, one sponsoring organization has requested collaboration and plans to launch a release program for students in grades 2 and 4 later this school year. Participation remains entirely a parent’s choice. London City School District follows state law and school district policy in matters involving religious release, but the district does not endorse or partner with any religious release organization. Entities offering religious instruction must annually confirm that all instructors and volunteers have completed background checks. However, parents granting permission for release also accept that the sponsoring entity, not the district, assumes full responsibility for their child’s welfare while off school grounds.