The Hidden Cost of Religious Indoctrination in Public Schools: Why Special Education Students Are More at Risk

The Hidden Cost of Religious Indoctrination in Public Schools: Why Special Education Students Are Most at Risk

By M. Patton, Special Education Advocate & Mom of two daughters with IEPs

Public School Funds Are Already Under Attack

State and federal funding for public schools is already stretched thin, and in many cases, being withheld or redirected. Special education is particularly vulnerable — IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) has never been fully funded since its passage in 1975, meaning districts are left to piece together resources to serve children with disabilities.

When programs like LifeWise or other religious 'released time' initiatives take priority during the school day, they further divert time, focus, and in some cases indirect resources away from academic instruction and services. The result is that students with disabilities — who depend on every minute of instruction and therapy — are left behind.

Our Nation’s Founding and Religious Freedom

The United States was founded by people fleeing religious persecution. The First Amendment of the Constitution enshrined the separation of church and state as a safeguard, ensuring that no single faith would dominate public life. Public schools, as government institutions funded by taxpayers, are meant to remain neutral so that children of every belief system can learn together.

Allowing religious indoctrination, even in the form of off-campus programs that are embedded in the school day, directly undermines this principle.

History’s Warning: Misusing Religion for Power

History has shown us repeatedly how religion can be misused as a tool of control rather than a force for love. The Christian Crusades were fought in the name of Christ, yet their actions contradicted the very teachings of peace, compassion, and justice that Christ modeled.

Today, organizations like the Heritage Foundation openly state their mission is to spread their ideology regardless of individual consent. This is not education — it is propaganda. And when introduced into public schools, it crosses the line of constitutional neutrality.

Why This Is Especially Dangerous for Students with Disabilities

For students with disabilities, the risks are even greater:

1. Vulnerability to Manipulation – Some students may not fully understand that religious instruction is not the same as academic fact. They may internalize teachings without the ability to critically question them.

2. Peer Pressure and Stigma – Students who opt out may feel excluded or different, which compounds the stigma already faced by many children in special education.

3. Loss of Services – If a student misses speech therapy, occupational therapy, or special education instruction because of religious programming, that is not a family 'choice' — it is a denial of the Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) guaranteed under IDEA and Section 504.

The Damage to Public Schools

Public schools are designed to be inclusive spaces where every child — regardless of race, culture, disability, or faith — can learn together. Allowing religious programs like LifeWise to infiltrate the school day undermines this promise. It creates division, fosters exclusion, and threatens the integrity of the public education system.

When public education is weakened, every student suffers. But those with disabilities — already navigating a system that too often fails them — are harmed the most.

A Call to Parents and Advocates

Parents and advocates must remain vigilant. Here’s what you can do:

- Stay informed about how your district is handling 'released time' religious programs.

- Insist that IEP or 504 services are never compromised or rescheduled for religious programming.

- Document any instances of coercion, lost services, or peer pressure.

- Speak out at school board meetings and, if necessary, file complaints with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Remember: silence allows erosion. Speaking out protects not just your child, but every child in the public school system.

My Advocate Take

This isn’t about opposing faith — families absolutely have the right to practice their religion. This is about ensuring that public schools remain free of indoctrination so that all children — including those in special education — can learn in a safe, inclusive environment.

Our country was founded on the belief that no one should be forced into a particular religion. Allowing religious programs to take root in public schools erodes that principle. As parents and advocates, we must speak out. Because silence today will become lost rights tomorrow.