Ohio Legislation

There are currently several bills in the Ohio House which seek to ban the discussion of “divisive concepts” and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Ohio schools, including anything related to Critical Race Theory, intersectionality, the 1619 project, white supremacy, Indigenous genocide, settler colonialism, systemic racism, implicit bias, social-emotional learning, economic inequality, gender identity, and many related concepts central to social and racial justice history and education.

Learn more about the current bills (2023-24) below.

HB 12 – HB 103 – SB 83 – SB 117

Learn more about the past bills that stalled in committee in 2021-2022 below.

HB 322 – HB 327 – HB 616

Ohio Board of Education

The latest attack on Ohio education has centered around House Bill 12, which aims to strip the Department of Education of nearly all its educational functions and transfer these into a new Department of Education and Workforce that would be under the direct control of the Governor. A full analysis of the proposed bill can be found here by the Ohio Legislative Services Commission (LSC).

In addition to HB 322, 327, and 616, there has been an ongoing battle within the Ohio Board of Education following the passage of Resolution 20 in the summer of 2020, which condemned racism in Ohio and address a number of issues of access and equity in Ohio school. This resolution sparked much of the initial backlash against CRT in Ohio, and continues to be part of the larger legislative discussion around issues of race in Ohio. Following a change of the BOE in 2021 those seeking to get the statement overturned were successful, replacing it with Resolution 13 which disavows Resolution 20 and further advances the claim that awareness about race, class, and gender-based inequities are unnecessary in Ohio.

On Wednesday Oct 13, 2021 the Ohio Board of Education voted in favor of Resolution 13, and overturned Resolution 20 condemning racism in Ohio. This move by the Ohio BOE shows the danger of conservative propaganda and disinformation related to making decisions on education and racial justice. This is one more step backwards for honest education in Ohio!

Dissenting Letter from Ohio Board of Education Members on vote against Res. 20. (Oct 14, 2021)

Joint Statement on the Ohio State Board of Education’s October 14, 2021, Vote to Rescind the 2020 Resolution to Condemn Racism and to Advance Equity and Opportunity for Black Students, Indigenous Students and Students of Color

Ohio Board of Education Resolution 13 (Sept 17, 2021)

RESOLUTION TO PROMOTE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN K-12 EDUCATION FOR EACH OHIO STUDENT WITHOUT PREJUDICE OR RESPECT TO RACE, ETHNICITY, OR CREED

This newly introduced Resolution by Ohio BOE Member Brendan Shea (District 10) seeks to nullify the July 2020 Resolution 20 (see below) condemning racism and promoting equity in Ohio schools.

Ohio Board of Education Resolution 24 (July 2021)

RESOLUTION TO REQUEST A FORMAL OPINION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OHIO IN REFERENCE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATIONS RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN RACISM AND TO ADVANCE EQUITY& OPPORTUNITY

Ohio Attorney General Yost Legal Review of Resolution 20 (9/14/2021)

Ohio State Board of Education Resolution 20 (7/14/2020)

RESOLUTION TO CONDEMN RACISM AND TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK STUDENTS, INDIGENOUS STUDENTS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yoast Joint Letter Opposing CRT to US Department of Education (5/19/2021)