Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Across the United States, parents are asking an important question:
Is there a lawful, respectful way to offer Bible education to children during the school day?
At Turning Point USA AmericaFest 2025, Brad Dacus, President of Pacific Justice Institute, sits down with Steve Clifton, a leader at Lifewise Academy, to discuss a growing, constitutionally protected model known as release-time religious instruction.
Lifewise Academy partners with parents and communities to provide off-campus Bible education during school hours, with parental permission and in full compliance with U.S. law. This approach—recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court since the 1950s—is now active in 1,000+ public schools across 35 states, reaching more than 60,000 students.
In this conversation, Brad and Steve cover:
- How release-time Bible programs work in public schools
- Why this approach is fully constitutional and voluntary
- How Lifewise Academy teaches the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
- Why many participating students come from families not currently connected to a church
- How parents can explore starting a program in their own community
- How Pacific Justice Institute provides free legal defense and resources to protect religious freedom
Sign up for our Legal Case Updates:
pacificjustice.org/legal-updates-subscription
Donate to our work:
pacificjustice.org/support/donate
Like our Facebook page:
facebook.com/PacificJusticeInstitute/?ref=bookmarks
Follow us on Instagram:
instagram.com/pacificjusticeinstitute
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/PacificJustice?s=09
This model is helping families strengthen faith foundations, churches connect with new families, and communities work together—peacefully and lawfully.
🔗 Learn more about Lifewise Academy: lifewise.org
🔗 Religious freedom legal resources: pji.org
📍 Filmed at AmericaFest 2025
Across the United States, parents are asking an important question:
Is there a lawful, respectful way to offer Bible education to children during the school day?
At Turning Point USA AmericaFest 2025, Brad Dacus, President of Pacific Justice Institute, sits down with Steve Clifton, a leader at Lifewise Academy, to discuss a growing, constitutionally protected model known as release-time religious instruction.
Lifewise Academy partners with parents and communities to provide off-campus Bible education during school hours, with parental permission and in full compliance with U.S. law. This approach—recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court since the 1950s—is now active in 1,000+ public schools across 35 states, reaching more than 60,000 students.
In this conversation, Brad and Steve cover:
- How release-time Bible programs work in public schools
- Why this approach is fully constitutional and voluntary
- How Lifewise Academy teaches the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
- Why many participating students come from families not currently connected to a church
- How parents can explore starting a program in their own community
- How Pacific Justice Institute provides free legal defense and resources to protect religious freedom
Sign up for our Legal Case Updates:
pacificjustice.org/legal-updates-subscription
Donate to our work:
pacificjustice.org/support/donate
Like our Facebook page:
facebook.com/PacificJusticeInstitute/?ref=bookmarks
Follow us on Instagram:
instagram.com/pacificjusticeinstitute
Follow us on Twitter:
twitter.com/PacificJustice?s=09
This model is helping families strengthen faith foundations, churches connect with new families, and communities work together—peacefully and lawfully.
🔗 Learn more about Lifewise Academy: lifewise.org
🔗 Religious freedom legal resources: pji.org
📍 Filmed at AmericaFest 2025
