WARREN — The Released Time program that has been offered to several school districts in Trumbull County since 2022 will expand to include more districts for the upcoming school year.

The program is Bible education during school hours at an off-campus site where public school children learn about the Bible one class period per week.

Don James, board president for the local Released Time, said the School Ministries of Trumbull County program has students from local school districts leave school for a certain amount of time and go to an off campus site to learn about the Bible.

The program, which is 20 to 25 minutes per session, is once a week from September through May.

James said a school year-end gathering took place at Warren First Assembly of God Church to bring the children and their families together. Since 2022, Champion and Bristol schools have been part of the program. James said this past school year, LaBrae and Southington sixth to eighth graders were added, and for the next school year those districts will expand to third to eighth grade.

In the 2025-26 school year, there were 85 students from the four school districts participating, with Champion and Bristol having the most.

Plans for next year are to add students from Girard and McDonald.

“The students are allowed one period per week to leave school and attend Released Time. Many students leave after lunch or during a study hall or intervention period. We offer a quick Bible study for the students. It is non denominational. The students open up a Bible and read and learn from the lesson. We provide them with lunch or a snack,” James said.

He said a committee picks the curriculum, which is basic study of the Bible.

He said the three requirements for the program are that children need parental approval, the location is an off-school campus site and funding for the program is provided by private sources.

James said the organization is a nonprofit and funds are being raised for a new van.

“About 40 to 50% of the kids who attend do not go to a church. Some of the children tell us they only go to church on holidays such as Palm Sunday and Christmas Eve,” James said.

He said times have changed since many parents and grandparents made children attend church like when he was young.

James said volunteers from local churches help with the program and lessons.

“I enjoy seeing the kids, especially the ones who do not go to a church, taking part. What we do is a reinforcement for the kids who do go to church. Many bring their friends who do not attend a church. We are able to get the students interested in reading the Bible and learning about God,” James said.

WHAT PARTICIPANTS SAY

Kendra Perrine of Champion said she enjoys the time with the students and makes sure they receive a meal while attending the program,

Judy Elston of Southington said she likes seeing “The ah ha! moment from the students when they learn something that surprises or amazes them. It is awesome when they learn something and they enjoy knowing what they learn.”

Robin Liddle of Southington said she remembers when she attended school, prayer was still allowed. She said when she heard of the Released Time, she wanted to get involved with helping the children learn about God

Elston and Liddle said they meet the students at Southington Christian Church. Penny Szitas of Southington, who is new to the program, said she dressed up as a Bible character to help teach a lesson.

Liddle said she hopes the instruction and learning helps plant seeds in the youth to be eager to learn about the Lord and read the Bible.

Vincent Shaker, an eighth grader from Champion, said one of his friends from school told him about Released Time, which interested him.

“This has helped me to grow and to learn about God. They teach about the Bible so kids can understand,” he said.

McKenna Freer, a sixth grader from Champion, said this is the first year she has attended the program.

“I like how we get together as a group and learn about what Jesus did. There are some of us who go to church and others who do not, but we are all learning together. This has helped me build a relationship with God,” Freer said.

For information on Released Time, email djames1oh@gmail.com or call 330-647-3457.