Censorship Bills
In the 134th General Assembly, the Ohio House introduced and discussed Bills 322, 327, and 616 seeking to censor honest education and discussion about history, race, racism, sexuality, and gender identity across Ohio K-12 schools, state higher education, state agencies, and political subdivisions.
These bills were imported into Ohio to advance a national political agenda designed to:
These bills were imported into Ohio to advance a national political agenda designed to:
- Whitewash history, sanitize hate, and hide hard truths about our nation
- Dismiss the enduring legacies and realities of racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia
- Silence the many diverse perspectives, identities, and experiences that shape the American Experience
- Create division and distrust amongst Ohioans by using misinformation to fuel fear and the "othering" of marginalized Ohioans
- Cause a chilling effect on honest education and discussions in the classroom and workplace
- Distract from REAL education issues, like unconstitutional school funding, under-resourced schools, and the growing teacher shortage
Why These Bills Hurt Ohio
These bills hurt every Ohioan by prohibiting, censoring, and restricting the essential truths, critical perspectives, and in-depth analyses of America's past and present necessary for healing and growth.
These bills cheat students, families, and educators of a quality public education and instead promote an incomplete and inadequate education that shuns intellectual curiosity and closes minds rather than expanding them.
These bills create distrust among students, families, teachers, and local communities.
These bills leave students, communities, and Ohio ill-equipped to thrive in a dynamic, globally-connected, 21st Century world.
These copycat bills promote the political interests of a national network of corporate-backed legislators, lobbyists, and organizations, not the needs or desires of Ohio.
Our students deserve more. Our families expect more. Our teachers want more. Our state needs more.
These bills cheat students, families, and educators of a quality public education and instead promote an incomplete and inadequate education that shuns intellectual curiosity and closes minds rather than expanding them.
These bills create distrust among students, families, teachers, and local communities.
These bills leave students, communities, and Ohio ill-equipped to thrive in a dynamic, globally-connected, 21st Century world.
These copycat bills promote the political interests of a national network of corporate-backed legislators, lobbyists, and organizations, not the needs or desires of Ohio.
Our students deserve more. Our families expect more. Our teachers want more. Our state needs more.
Anti-Honesty in Education Bills and Actions Across the US
More than 40 states across the country have introduced or passed similar bills and actions in their statehouses, state boards of education, and local districts. These copycat bills use strikingly similar language and penalties, much of which originated from Donald Trump's Executive Order 13950 issued in September 2020.
Most bills and actions were passed or adopted without the support, endorsement, or consultation of trained education professionals, leading education organizations, and mental and behavioral health experts.
Most bills and actions were passed or adopted without the support, endorsement, or consultation of trained education professionals, leading education organizations, and mental and behavioral health experts.