Ohio Republican state senator wants to ban diversity and inclusion in public schools
State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, speaks during an Ohio Senate session. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.)
A new bill proposed by an Ohio Republican lawmaker would ban diversity and inclusion efforts in Ohio K-12 public schools.
State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, recently introduced Ohio Senate Bill 113 which would require every local board of education in the state to adopt a policy that would end any current diversity and inclusion offices or departments and ban any diversity, equity, and inclusion orientation or training. It would also prevent the creation of any new such offices or departments and using DEI in job descriptions.
Under the bill, each board of education would be required to create a complaint process for an alleged violation of the policy and the board would investigate the complaint with a hearing.
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Ohio teacher unions were quick to critique the bill.
'This is another petty attempt from this legislature to sidestep local control and micromanage every aspect of how public schools operate,' Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said in an email. 'It is objectively a good thing for students of all races when school districts make an effort to hire a diverse teaching staff.'
Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro said S.B. 113 is a distraction.
'Ohio's General Assembly should be focused on the real issues facing Ohioans and our schools — fully and adequately funding public schools and seeking solutions to help alleviate the economic challenges faced by families and communities,' he said in an email.
Honesty for Ohio Education Executive Director Christina Collins said this is another example of Ohio lawmakers are going after school curriculum and programming.
'This bill uses the vilified acronym 'DEI' without offering a definition to advance an agenda that harms our public education system,' she said in an email.
S.B. 113 is not the only bill Ohio lawmakers have introduced that would ban diversity and inclusion efforts in education. Senate Bill 1 would, among other things, ban diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Ohio's public universities. The Senate passed the bill earlier this month and is waiting to be heard in the House.
S.B. 113 comes as President Donald Trump's executive orders attempt to get rid of diversity and inclusion efforts across federal agencies.
On Feb. 14, the U.S. Department of Education sent a Dear Colleague letter to schools nationwide threatening to rescind federal funds for schools that use race-conscious practices in admissions, programming, training, hiring, scholarships, and other aspects of student life.
This would apply to all preschool, elementary, secondary, postsecondary educational institutions and state educational agencies that receive financial assistance. Institutions have until Friday to comply or else they face the 'potential loss of federal funding.'
Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky.
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