Ohio House committee hears testimony on Loychik bill on ‘age appropriate’ education

The Ohio House State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday heard sponsor testimony on legislation that would ban educators from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

House Bill 616, sponsored by state Reps. Mike Loychik of Bazetta, R-63rd, and Jean Schmidt of Loveland, R-65th, also would “prohibit schools from using textbooks and imposing curriculum that promotes or endorses divisive and inherently racist concepts,” according to a news release.

According to the bill, that includes:

• Critical race theory, which centers around the concept that racism is systemic in U.S. institutions;
• Intersectional theory, which examines how people of different identities experience discrimination differently;
• The 1619 Project, a New York Times-led project that collected essays and developed school curriculum that reframes American history around the “consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans”;
• Diversity, equity and inclusions learning outcomes, which encourage openness to intercultural perspectives and communication;
• Inherited racial guilt, or “white guilt” — the belief that whites are responsible or must atone for racial injustices.

It also includes any other concept that the State Board of Education “defines as divisive or inherently racist” under Ohio Revised Code.

The bill would also bar teachers from receiving continuing education credits “or other credit required for licensure renewal” from seminars or programs that cover those topics.

HB 616 would also require that teaching about sexual orientation or gender identify to be age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for children in fourth through 12th grade.

“This bill is designed to protect parental rights and protect children from indoctrination,” reads Loychik’s sponsor testimony, submitted Tuesday.

“When I send my child to kindergarten I want him to be learning his ABCs not the birds and the bees. I think a great many parents stand with me in wanting the same. We must put safeguards in place to ensure that our children are receiving a fair, unbiased, and age appropriate education.”

The bill would also direct the State Board of Education to develop a process for parents to file complaints. Teachers or administrators found in violation may be subject to license suspension or revocation.

It also requires the Ohio Department of Education to withhold funding from a school district whose teachers are found to be using illegal curriculum or receiving those teaching credits “based on the severity of the offense” and the time it takes the district to comply.

The legislation is similar to a bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, which critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

“Our classrooms are supposed to be free from political activism while answers are discovered by the students themselves, not through indoctrination,” Schmidt said in a news release.

HB 616 awaits a second and third hearing for proponent and opponent testimony.

Valley state Rep. Tim Ginter of Salem, R-5th, is a member of the State and Local Government Committee.