Public Opinion Shifts Toward Support for Bible-Based Character Education in Schools

A strong majority of U.S. voters—78%—support teaching character and moral education to public school students, and 67% support that education being Bible-based so long as it is done legally, according to a new LifeWise Academy poll. 

The poll was conducted February 25-26, 2025, in partnership with Scott Rasmussen’s RMG Research, with a 3.1% margin of error. 

LifeWise Academy CEO Joel Penton sees the poll of 1,000 registered voters as a clear call to action. “This poll should be a wake-up call for legislators across the country to support the kind of religious release time programs that the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled constitutional, that Americans want, and has been proven to improve behavior and performance for students,” he said. 

Notably, 59% of voters also believe behavior and discipline in public schools have worsened in recent years, reinforcing the need for effective character-building initiatives. 

“American voters recognize that public schools are struggling with a behavior and discipline crisis and that teachers and principals need a proven solution,” Penton explained. 

A 2023 National Education Association survey found that many educators cited student behavior as a top concern after disruptive and violent behavior became rampant during the 2022-2023 school year. According to a Pew Research poll cited by the union, most teachers (68%) reported being verbally abused by a student, such as being yelled at or threatened. 

The union’s explanation for poor student behavior ranged from missed social opportunities due to the COVID-19 lockdowns to a general mental health crisis among young Americans.  

LifeWise Academy noted that research by Thomas P. Miller and Associates in 2023 found that schools with release time for religious instruction programs reported improved “student conduct, academic engagement and school morale.” LifeWise is a nonprofit organization that provides Bible-based character and moral education to students during school hours following religious instruction laws.  

The Supreme Court deemed such instruction legal if conducted off-campus, privately funded, and permitted by parents. Only 13 states currently mandate that public schools must allow released time religious instruction, and legislation mandating the allowance of religious instruction is being pursued in 16 states.  

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