Satanic Temple Launches Religious Program for Ohio Elementary Students

The Hellion Academy of Independent Learning offers a monthly alternative to Christian religious release programs in Marysville, Ohio.

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.