In Many Places, Bible Education for Public School Kids Is Already Happening. Here's What They're Learning.

[Solly Mack]

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Another argued that parents who don’t want their children to learn about Jesus Christ don’t have to sign their kids up for LifeWise. “But what right do you have to tell other families that they cannot allow their children to learn about the Lord of the universe?” he asked.

These same people want to determine what books your child reads though. What subjects they are taught. They want to be the final word in your child's education.

This hints at a major red flag for some parents: LifeWise’s political activism. In our interview, Penton idealized spreading a gospel of God’s love to children. But for an organization with certain ties and motivations, it’s difficult to say politics remain at a distant remove.

LifeWise was a sponsor this year for Turning Point USA’s Believers’ Summit. Media Matters noted that the Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council, which are both Project 2025 signatories, have both hosted Penton and promoted LifeWise on their podcasts. LifeWise’s funders include local foundations and national philanthropic groups, but also Patriot Mobile, a wireless company that funds conservative causes.

Moreover, there’s an effort to pass Ohio state legislation that would force school districts to adopt an RTRI policy (thus, it seems, making it impossible to refuse LifeWise).

And that tells you all you need to know about the program.