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The Oklahoma House is considering a bill that would enable kids in public schools to attend off-site Bible studies. The concept is not new. It was upheld many years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Oklahoma Senate has already voted for this bill (HB 1425), but the House has delayed consideration, owing to opposition from the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. There can be no more delay, as the Oklahoma legislative session ends on May 31, 2024.

Please call and email your Oklahoma House member and ask them to pass HB 1425: the Oklahoma prayer released-time bill. Please also ask them to ask Speaker Charles McCall to bring this bill up for a vote.

Released-time moral instruction programs have been available in several states for more than 100 years. Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other states have released-time programs that enable local churches to partner with schools to offer off-site religious instruction. In Utah, the Mormon church takes full advantage of prayer release programs, as do Jewish students in New York City. Several states even provide elective course credit for these character-building programs.

The courts have consistently ruled that released-time programs are constitutional, provided that:

They have the permission of the parents.
They do not use government funding.
The programs are not on school grounds.

Six states require school districts to provide moral instruction-released time. Several others allow districts to offer it. The policy has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. It has also been upheld by the federal 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over Oklahoma.

It is time for the Oklahoma House to act by passing HB 1425. The most powerful person in the House is Speaker Charles McCall. If he decides to bring this bill up for a vote, it will pass.

Please call and email Oklahoma Speaker Charles McCall – and your Oklahoma legislator – and ask them to pass HB 1425: the Oklahoma prayer released-time bill.

Prayer released-time programs have been linked to increased academic performance, fewer disciplinary issues, healthier emotional development, and a reduction in anti-social behavior. Nationally, an estimated 350,000 students attend these programs each year. It’s time for Oklahoma to join the other states in offering prayer-released time to public school students.

Passing HB 1425 will be a powerful step in helping Oklahoma’s young people prepare for a brighter future.

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