Source: OhioHealth Government Relations Newsletter April 2022
Recently, two Republican state representatives (Mike Loychik, Warren, OH, and Jean Schmidt, Cincinnati, OH) introduced House Bill (HB) 616, which prohibits curriculum and instruction materials on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3 and in grades 4 through 12, schools would have to adhere to age- and developmentally-appropriate instruction materials, lessons, and curriculum on sexual orientation and gender identity.
HB 616 also seeks to control how racism is taught in K-12 schools. It would ban, for instance, The New York Time’s “The 1619 Project,” which seeks to explain the enduring effects of racism and slavery in American history and contemporary society.
The bill would impact school districts, charter schools, science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM schools, as well as private schools that take Ohio children on vouchers.
HB 616 has not been assigned to a House Committee. The Speaker of the House, in his most recent statement, said that he has not yet read the bill.