Overview

• The Satanic Temple's Hellion Academy of Independent Learning (HAIL) begins this month at Edgewood Elementary School in Marysville, Ohio, as part of the state's Release Time Religious Instruction (RTRI) program.
• The program was initiated after parents requested an alternative to LifeWise Academy, a Christian-based release program that offers weekly Bible lessons.
• HAIL emphasizes critical thinking, compassion, empathy, self-directed learning, and creative expression, aiming to provide an inclusive option for students who feel excluded from other religious programs.
• The Satanic Temple, a non-theistic organization, advocates for religious pluralism and justice, and its programs are only established in districts where other religious release programs already exist.
• LifeWise Academy's CEO supports legislation, Ohio House Bill 445, which would require school districts to implement policies for religious release programs, allowing parents to choose among options.