During this election period, Christians were understandably disappointed in the ground they had lost in life’s issues. Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, many states have protected and even expanded abortion “rights” through legislation and ballot initiatives, and will follow suit in November. The possibilities are even higher. And, of course, Republicans have removed their longstanding pro-life policy positions from the party’s official platform.
On the other hand, there is much to encourage Christians when it comes to issues related to education. For example, more parents are supporting education that respects religion and religious beliefs. According to the 2023 Beckett Religious Freedom Index, a majority of Americans support the right to religious education. Additionally, 67% of Americans believe parents should be able to “opt out” of content they find morally objectionable, and 54% of Americans believe that students attending private religious schools should be able to “opt out” of content they find morally objectionable. believes federal funds should be available.
This follows years of growth in school choice, policies that allow students to follow public funding to the schools of their choice to receive the best education. By prioritizing parents and students over schools, these programs enable families to pursue an education that not only excels academically, but also honors their spiritual and moral beliefs. In recent years, many states have passed school choice laws. Currently, 16 states, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, offer vouchers, and 17 states offer publicly funded education savings accounts (ESAs). Also, for the first time, Republicans added universal school choice to their platform.
School choice laws have been a boon to Christian education wherever they have been enacted. As one AP News article reported, the vouchers have made it easier for churches to start Christian schools, including meeting their congregation’s growing demand for Christian education. Conservative Christian schools accounted for 12% of private education options in the country in 2021-22. Although not the largest private education option, the conservative Christian school saw a 15% increase in enrollment from 2019 to 2021.
Religious education in public schools is also gaining momentum. Just as private Christian schools are on the rise, so are religious “release time” programs. In 1952, the Supreme Court ruled that religious education during public school hours is legal if the program is privately funded, off school property, and with parental consent. did. One group that has taken advantage of this great opportunity in recent years is LifeWise Academy. LifeWise Academy provides “plug and play” resources to help churches and Christians launch Christian release time education programs in local public schools. Since 2018, the LifeWise program has been launched to students in more than 300 public schools in more than a dozen states. Each week, 35,000 public school students are taught about Jesus in the LifeWise program.
Perhaps the best way to describe what has happened in education in recent years, including growing dissatisfaction with the dominant public system, ideologically aggressive curricula and teachers, is reform. Probably. Parents are becoming more vocal than ever, alternatives are being imagined and initiated, and what was once hidden by the status quo is being brought to light. Christians should thank God and ask for more strength. After all, we now have a tremendous opportunity to make the future better for generations to come, and Christian history is full of educational innovation, renewal, and reform. We believe in education because we believe that God knows the truth and makes people knowledgeable. With that in mind, let’s get to work.
