LifeWise Academy Expands to 37 Iowa Schools
A 2025 state law allowing excused religious instruction has helped the program reach 24 districts statewide.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Homeschooling
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LifeWise Academy now operates in 37 Iowa schools across 24 districts following a 2025 state law that lets public school students be excused for up to five hours a week of religious instruction. Twenty-two chapters launched across the state in the last six months, with more than 1,200 students enrolled this school year.
Why it matters
The Iowa law gave communities clarity on joining the program, and its rapid growth reflects that. Uneven results in the Des Moines metro, where some chapters have low enrollment or have not resumed programming, show the model's limits in certain areas.
LifeWise Academy operates in more than 1,000 communities nationwide, and Iowa's 2025 law allows up to five hours a week of excused religious instruction. The source does not report how many Iowa students have dropped out of the program or why.
The players
LifeWise Academy
LifeWise Academy is a religious instruction program that began in rural Ohio in 2019 and now has chapters in more than 1,000 communities across the United States.
The details
Community members form a leadership team, gather signatures, raise money, and obtain school permission to start a chapter. Students attend weekly sessions scheduled during lunch, recess, or elective periods so they do not interfere with core classes.
Timeline
LifeWise Academy first came to Iowa in 2022.
Iowa's excused religious instruction law took effect in 2025.
The Garton Elementary chapter in Des Moines started in January 2026 with nine registered students.
The Timber Ridge Elementary chapter in Johnston launched Sept. 29.
The Des Moines Jackson Elementary chapter plans to begin programming in January 2027.
Policy Context
Iowa's 2025 law, which permits up to five hours a week of excused religious instruction during the school day, is the statutory basis for the program's statewide growth. LifeWise Academy's expansion since its 2022 arrival in Iowa shows how a clear legal framework can accelerate adoption across districts.
Families at participating Iowa schools can have their children excused for up to five hours a week of religious instruction without affecting core classes. Parents in districts without a chapter yet must gather signatures, raise funds, and secure school approval before any program can start.
The takeaway
Parents interested in LifeWise Academy should check whether their school already has a chapter and, if not, understand the organizing steps required to launch one. Enrollment varies widely across chapters, so local participation levels are worth confirming before committing.
What happens next
Jackson Elementary in Des Moines plans to begin LifeWise programming in January 2027, and Southeast Elementary in Ankeny expects to start courses in the second semester.
Further reading
Explore more on Homeschooling to see how families are weighing alternatives to traditional classroom schedules in Iowa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Des Moines Register.
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