A Republican legislator from Ohio has introduced a new bill that would prohibit diversity and inclusion initiatives in Ohio’s K–12 public schools.
The state’s local boards of education would have to adopt a policy that would terminate any existing diversity and inclusion offices or departments and prohibit any diversity, equity, and inclusion orientation or training, according to Ohio Senate Bill 113, which was recently introduced by state senator Andrew Brenner, a Republican from Delaware. Additionally, it would forbid the establishment of any new departments or offices of this kind and the use of DEI in job descriptions.
Each board of education would have to establish a complaint procedure for a suspected policy infringement under the measure, and the board would then conduct a hearing to look into the complaint.
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Teacher unions in Ohio quickly criticized the bill.
In an email, Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, called this another petty attempt by this government to circumvent local authority and micromanage every facet of public school operations. When school districts try to hire a diverse teaching staff, it is objectively beneficial for kids of all races.
S.B. 113 is a distraction, according to Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association.
In an email, he stated that the General Assembly of Ohio should concentrate on the actual problems that Ohioans and our schools face, such as providing public schools with full and adequate financing and looking for ways to lessen the financial hardships that families and communities experience.
According to Christina Collins, executive director of the Ohio Education Honesty Campaign, this is just another instance of Ohio lawmakers targeting school curricula and programming.
In an email, she stated that this measure damages our public school system by using the demonized acronym DEI without providing a description.
There are other bills submitted by Ohio politicians that would prohibit diversity and inclusion initiatives in education, in addition to S.B. 113. Among other things, Senate Bill 1 would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities in Ohio. The law was approved by the Senate earlier this month, and the House is currently awaiting its consideration.
S.B. 113 follows President Donald Trump’s executive directives that aim to eliminate government agencies’ diversity and inclusion initiatives.
In a Dear Colleague letter addressed to colleges around the country on February 14, the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold federal funding for institutions that employ racial discrimination in hiring, programming, training, admissions, scholarships, and other areas of student life.
All state educational agencies that receive funding as well as preschool, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions would be covered by this.Federal funds may be withheld from institutions if they don’t comply by Friday.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.