Why religious schools shine

Given the economy, you would think enrollment would be down this year at schools such as the Liahona Preparatory Academy in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Parents are already paying with their taxes for public schools. Why spend even more for a religious-based school that doesn't benefit from those monies?

But Liahona and other religious schools in the state say they are growing. It seems for some, the desire for a faith-based approach to education

trumps economic considerations.

\"It's an added cost to parents to have their children come here,\" said Brent DeGraff, a history teacher and co-owner of the Liahona Academy. \"It's a very close-knit group of people that believe firmly in the need for religion and this type of education for students.\"

Liahona offers a curriculum based on the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is one of several dozen faith-based schools in the state, including those run by Catholics, Lutherans and Muslims.

While there is little research comparing religious schools to public schools, scholars in Texas determined a few years ago that the majority of parents who send their children to religion-based schools are highly religious themselves.

Many parents and educators believe religion-based education can actually reinforce a student's values and beliefs, and that the quality of education is better than public schools.

\"I see the children are still living the faith and even continue to go to Sunday School after they leave here,\" said Wan Ismail-Ebling, principal of the Iqra Academy in West Valley City, Utah. \"They are in public schools now, but I can see the foundation they got here.\"

The Iqra Academy was opened in 2000 by members of Utah's Muslim community. Schooling is offered up to the fifth grade, and each day, students receive up to an hour of training in the basics of the Quran and also Arabic.

There are also 15 minutes of prayer time scheduled each day, and students meet each morning for a small schoolwide assembly. The rest of the curriculum is based on state standards for math, reading, language and other topics.

\"Our vision is for the children here to get both Islamic and secular studies, and in terms of religion, we would like for them to anchor in their hearts and soul, the moral framework of a God-centered life,\" said Ismail-Ebling.

At Blessed Sacrament School in Sandy, Utah, the educational mission is similar: To teach the \"whole child spiritually and academically and emotionally and socially.\"

\"We are able to bring God into everything we do here,\" said Principal Judy Julian. \"And I think for one thing, that helps them make better