Lifewise Academy Threatens Legal Action on Public Schools and Service Providers

Lifewise Academy has decided to use its legal team to silence voices that speak the truth and inform the public about Lifewise Academy and its operations. First Liberty Institute has sent a letter to NEOLA (Northeast Ohio Learning Associates). This organization assists school districts with creating school policies. Lifewise has taken issue with how schools have implemented the policies mandated by the state of Ohio. Lifewise does not want to sue local schools because they do not want to appear as the bad guys. So they have gone after the next closest group. 

Read the full post Published: April 18, 2025

Wynford Local Schools Supports Lifewise Academy With Use of School Resources

Wynford Local Schools (Bucyrus, OH) has released students to attend Lifewise Academy since January 2022. From the start of the program, Steve Ritzhaupt, Lifewise director at the time, requested that Wynford Schools donate the use of the school's bus drivers. The buses used would also be Wynford's. The superintendent at the time, Fred Fox, thought the school could do this, but later was informed that it would be against the law.

Read the full post Published: August 13, 2024

Are Elmwood Local Schools and Lifewise Academy Breaking Ohio Law?

Lifewise Academy states religious instruction during the school day is legal, if three criteria are followed. "Off school Property. Privately funded. Parent permitted." Zorach vs Clauson, the supreme court case Lifewise also continuously mentions, says "a program which permits its public schools to release students during the school day so that they may leave the school buildings and school grounds and go to religious centers for religious instruction or devotional exercises."

Read the full post Published: July 26, 2024

Validating Claims Lifewise Academy Improves Attendance

"Looking at publicly available data… the one day out of the week the school hits its target of 90% enrollment is the day it has Lifewise."

Joel Penton, Lifewise Academy CEO

Read the full post Published: July 20, 2024

Lifewise Academy Seeking Board Approval in Tiffin City Schools

Lifewise Academy has created a steering committee and an official plan to bring its bible study classes to Tiffin City Schools. The plan would offer the program to students at Krout and Washington elementary schools. The classes would be held at the Chandelier Event Center for Washington and Restoration Alliance Church for Krout.

Read the full post Published: June 26, 2024

Did Lifewise Academy CEO Joel Penton Mislead the Ohio House of Representatives?

Joel Penton, CEO of Lifewise Academy, testified in support of HB 445. In his testimony, he stated that “almost none of our students miss any class of any kind” by attending a Lifewise class. Joel Penton's testimony made it appear that almost all Lifewise classes are during lunch and recess. This is not true. Many Lifewise programs operate during specials or other instructional time that is not lunch or recess.

Read the full post Published: June 21, 2024