News from School Ministries, Inc.

Share the good news! This is the first electronic only issue of The Report Card. Please feel free to forward this issue to volunteers and anyone else you think should know about RTBE (Released Time Bible Education). Anyone can sign up to be on the e-mail list for future copies by registering on the SMI website at http://www.schoolministries.org

WEBSITE UPDATE COMING - A major update of the SMI website will soon be available. References made in this newsletter to the website will be available in the updated version.

With school wrapping up for the school year we just wanted to update you on what has happened during a very busy year.

Academic Credit for Released Time

SMI Executive Director, Kenneth Breivik, sees the top news for the 2006-2007 school year as the establishment of the first for-credit RTBE programs in South Carolina high schools. Even though the South Carolina Released Time Credit Act was only passed in the summer of 2006, by the spring semester, two SMI affiliates had for-credit programs up and running. (Congratulations to Horry CARES and Clarendon!) Since then, their groundbreaking efforts and accompanying news coverage are making it easier for other affiliates to initiate their own programs. (The Greenville News ran two articles on the issue of credit for religious courses.)

There are five requirements for an RTBE course to receive academic credit. They are: (1) equivalent instruction time is required as for other high school electives; (2) a syllabus must be provided; (3) an assessment plan must be provided; (4) the teacher must be state certified; and (5) the program must meet the regular requirements of a Released Time Program.

Highlights from this Year's Conference

The School Ministries Conference was held in Myrtle Beach on March 17th. Major themes for the conference included partnering for success and for- credit opportunities. After a heartfelt time of welcome and devotions, Kenneth Breivik, SMI Executive Director, and Laura Hucks, Horry CARES Board member, provided an in-depth look at the background and the implementation of for-credit high school RTBE programs.

The next speaker was Gloria A. Morris, South Carolina Executive Director of Prevent Child Abuse (PCASC). She and a colleague provided extensive information on the challenges facing concerned adults in preventing child abuse and the role that teachers and others can play in this regard. She indicated her support for programs like RTBE and indicated her interest in having RTBE flyers in the PCASC folders she provides to school superintendents throughout the state. This was part of a wider discussion that SMI and the local programs should be engaged not just what community groups can do for RTBE but also a question of how SMI programs can help their communities and, thereby, extend RTBE influence in their schools and broader communities.

Part of the lunch period included the emotional highlight of the conference. It was a time of sharing (lead by Joe Price, Board Chairman, Greer Christian Learning Center) the program successes and challenges experienced by the various programs during the current year. The stories of God's faithfulness in meeting needs and the stories of changed students' lives reminded everyone of the mission to which we are called. In addition, some of the observations included the urgency to understand legal issues, the opportunity to expand sites because of the initiation of for-credit high school programs and the importance of SMI being clearly interdenominational so as to allow the programs to be a spring board for other collaborative community efforts.

After lunch, two sets of break-out sessions were offered for teachers and board members/directors. The first set addressed the topics of building curriculum options (lead by Jason Williams, SMI Florida Director) and Building Program Resources- Personnel, Dollars and PR (lead by Janice Butler, Executive Director, Greenville Christian Learning Center) respectively. The second set provided an opportunity for "sharing" by the teachers (lead by Laura Hucks) and an exploration of how newly developed curriculum materials can enhance RTBE program acceptance and quality (lead by Chuck Stetson, SMI Board Member).

Members: Information on the discussions regarding the need to build a curriculum and resource collection for access by SMI members, resource building and establishing for-credit programs is available on the Members' Zone page of the SMI website at: http://www.schoolministries.org

Greer Christian Learning Center Presents its 5th Annual Released Time Scholarship Award

For the last five years, the Greer Christian Learning Center has presented a scholarship in the amount of $1000 that goes to a Released Time student who is a Greer High School senior and who has demonstrated a consistent Christ-like walk during his or her high school years. This year's recipient, who was selected by the Board of Directors of Greer Christian Learning Center, is Elizabeth Wood.

Ms. Wood is a wonderful young lady. She will be graduating from Greer High School and will be attending North Greenville University in the fall.

Joe Price, chairman of the Greer Christian Learning Center, said about the award, "We felt this was a great way to get the message out to the students and parents. If young people are rewarded for their academics, we felt it was very important for God's servants to also be recognized for their stand. I don't think we realize how difficult it is in our public schools for these young people to stand up for their faith, much like Daniel did. This award has become one that garners a good bit of attention and respect at awards night at Greer High School where it is presented."

Pictured above from left to right: Pierce Williams (board member), Elizabeth Wood and Joe Price

Office Provided for SMI Florida Efforts

Florida State SMI Director, Jason Williams, reports that he is now working from an office in the Jacksonville Baptist Association headquarters where they have provided a home base for his SMI activities. The Jacksonville Baptist Association building is a large facility that provides for those who enter or call the building for Released Time to be greeted by a receptionist. The SMI work space is provided with a phone, desk, and chair. SMI also may use the conference room which holds approximately 75 people. This setting is great for inviting guests to come and learn about RT in Florida.

Program Profile: CLC of the Upstate

by Mack Edwards, Program Director

We began in '98 with three Released Time teaching sites in Anderson County. We currently have six sites in Anderson and Pickens Counties combined. All sites are in middle schools. Last school year we had 699 students complete the program. Ninety-two students made a decision for Christ!

Some of our teaching sites have taken as many as three years to start. Our programs have a variety of schedules. Three schools meet every day for 45 minutes; one meets every other day for 80 minutes; one meets every day for 80 minutes and one site meets one day per week for 45 minutes. The latter district is limiting us to one day a week and not letting us publicize the program. Prayers are needed for favor so that we can see this program expanded.

One site has 750 students and 350 of them go to Released Time classes daily. The teacher at that site was named outstanding teacher of the quarter last year-as voted on by the administrators, teachers and students. She also helps administer SAT tests and chaperones field trips. She receives no money from the School District.

Our teachers are the only ones paid. Released Time furnishes transportation for three sites, and the site church furnishes the other three. Our board currently has eleven members including a bookkeeper; none are paid.

God has really been blessing the financing of our (His) program. For many years, our funds were so sparse that the board members had to determine which teachers needed money the most, and pay them first as funds were available! We developed a video that enabled board members to go to area churches on Wednesday and Sunday nights and actually show (as well as tell) people about Released Time. The video took about two years to produce. Between the support of board members and other people whose hearts God touched, the video was made at little or no cost except for materials. It is not dated and can be used for some time.

Many churches have added us to their budget. Board members have been in competition to see who can get the most Sunday School classes to sponsor a student for $25 per month. Praise be to God that we have been operating in the black for the past two years.

Now the SC Legislators' decision to allow credit for Released Time at the high school level has given us much needed publicity to begin new programs at all levels. We are talking with two high schools and five middle schools about future sites.

(The video referred to above, is available on the SMI website in the Members' Zone.)

New SMI Board Member

Hal W. Stevenson joined the SMI Board of Directors this spring. Mr. Stevenson is President and CEO of Stevenson Communications that specializes in out-of- home media.

He is active in his church and community and has been a member on other service boards including being chair of the SC Justice Fellowship Board for six years. He lives in Columbia, SC, is married to the former Diana Wemmer and has five children.

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