Education Information/Alerts from Honesty for Ohio Education

 

This week we wanted to open with our gratitude and joy. We so appreciate our vibrant coalition, and all of the hard work we can accomplish together! We were recognized this month by the Ohio Education Association with the Friend of Education Award, which recognizes a person and/or organization whose leadership, actions, and support have contributed to the improvement of public education.  Winning this award also brought members of our coalition in from all corners of the state to be in one room together!  Thank you to every coalition member who has fueled this powerful work.

The Week Ahead... This week, the Statehouse is moving ahead with House Bill 68, the ban on gender-affirming care, and Senate Bill 83, the Higher Education Destruction Act. LGBTQ+ organizations and families from across the state are mobilizing to protect some of Ohio's most vulnerable young people. The state budget is working its way through the Ohio Senate. The State Board of Education will next convene on June 12 & 13.   Florida's race to the bottom The NAACP has issued a travel advisory for Florida, sharing that "the travel advisory was initially proposed to the Board of Directors by NAACP's Florida State Conference," and that "NAACP's collective consideration of this advisory is a result from unrelenting attacks on fundamental freedoms from the Governor and his legislative body." Take action with the NAACP to fight against Florida's regressive policies here.   New column from coalition partner Many thanks to Jeanne Melvin for a new column in the Ohio Capital Journal highlighting the potential damage that House Bill 103 could create. HB 103 replaces Ohio educator-developed social studies curriculum and standards with the American Birthright curriculum, developed in large part by the Heritage Foundation: Read Jeanne's excellent column here, and learn more about HB 103 here.    Coming up... REGISTER Building Momentum: Amplifying Freedom to Learn May 30, 7pm REGISTER More events below

EDUCATION UPDATES

STATEHOUSE WEEKLY ACTION ALERTS HERE Legislative Calendar HERE Senate Committee Schedule HERE House Committee Schedule HERE Honesty for Ohio Education Legislative Tracker HERE   Spotlight: House Bill 171 Last week, a coalition of Ohioans and organizations who believe in honest education introduced House Bill 171 and launched the Educating for Ohio's Future campaign: Educating for Ohio's Future ensures that the rich cultures, histories, migrations, contributions, and lived experiences of the communities that call Ohio home are reflected in K-12 curriculum. With support from groups like OPAWL, CAIR-Ohio, The Freedom BLOC, the Young Latino Network, and Honesty for Ohio Education, House Bill 171 was introduced by Rep. Mary Lightbody. Join the campaign to support this bill as an individual HERE or as an organization HERE. Learn more about the campaign and bill HERE, or see the legislature's page for HB 171 HERE.   UPCOMING HEARINGS Senate Education Committee Tuesday, May 23, 3pm, South Hearing Room Agenda • Watch SB 112 - Sponsor Testimony Enacts Ohio Childhood Safety Act • Learn More SB 99 - Sponsor Testimony Enacts Sarah's Law regarding seizure action plans • Learn More   House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Tuesday, May 23, 4pm, Room 116 Agenda • Watch HB 71 - Sponsor Testimony Establishes Community Connectors Workforce Program • Learn More HB 147 - Sponsor Testimony Regards teacher licensure revocation, hiring practices, conduct • Learn More  HB 135 - Proponent Testimony Requires school districts to grant excused absence for 4-H and FFA • Learn More    House Public Health Policy Committee Wednesday, May 24, 9:30am, Room 121 Agenda • Watch House Bill 68 - Opponent Testimony Bans gender-affirming healthcare for minors, creates a statewide registry of gender-affirming care services, and imposes penalties for violations  •  Learn More   House Higher Education Committee Wednesday, May 24, 10:30am, Room 17 Agenda • Watch SB 83 - Sponsor Testiimony Higher education bill banning required DEI training, policies based on gender and race, partnerships with China, and employee strikes; requires online posting of syllabi and disciplinary measures for violations • Learn More HB 164 - Sponsor Testimony Establishes Foster-to-College Scholarship Program • Learn More  HB 98 - All Testimony Prohibits reduction of financial aid for private scholarship award • Learn More    House Session   Wednesday, May 24, 2pm • Watch   HOUSE BILLS - TAKE ACTION Please TAKE ACTION on these fast-moving, high-priority bills.  Stop House Bill 6, the trans student athlete ban  HB 6 bans transgender students from participating on female sports teams in Ohio K-12 schools, colleges, and universities • Learn More Contact the House Higher Education Committee  Call Committee HERE Email Committee HERE  Stop House Bill 8, the Unsafe Students Act HB 8 forces schools to out LGBTQ+ students to parents, regardless of harm or danger to student; requires teachers to report the use of any "sexually explicit material" to parents and provide alternative material; bill offers vague definition of "sexually explicit material" that targets LGBTQ+ identities and experiences • Learn More Contact the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Call Committee HERE Email Committee HERE  Stop House Bill 12, the State Takeover of Public Education State takeover of public education; shifts oversight of State Board of Education and Dept of Education to governor; strips significant roles and duties from State Board and state superintendent (companion bill to Senate Bill 1) Learn More Contact the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Call Committee HERE Email Committee HERE Stop House Bill 68, the gender affirming care ban Bans gender-affirming care for minors, including referrals for mental health care treatment, exempts intersex people or people with disorders of sexual development Learn More Contact the House Public Health Policy Committee HERE Stop House Bill 103, the extremist overhaul of K-12 Social Studies  HB 103 creates a Social Studies Standards Task Force (with appointees of the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker) to overhaul Ohio K-12 social studies standards using the extremist American Birthright: The Civics Alliance's Model K-12 Social Studies Standards • Learn More Watch last week's HB 103 proponent testimony HERE Contact the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee  Call Committee HERE Email Committee HERE   Follow these bills and more on our Legislation Tracker

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION NEXT MONTHLY MEETING June 12 & 13, 2023, 8am Meeting Materials | Watch Board Meetings The State Board of Education will next meet on June 12 & 13. By that meeting, we may have more information about the state budget, the fate of the retention provision in the Third Grade Reading Guarantee, and the initiation of a new search process for a permanent superintendent.

LOCAL SCHOOLS 2023 Ohio TORCH Winners The 2023 Teachers of Ohio Representing Character and Heart (TORCH) have been announced! Congratulations and immense gratitude go to:  Mary Miller, Leader in Me teacher at Belpre Elementary School in Belpre Carrie Burnworth, music teacher at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in Lancaster Denise Robertson, French and humanities teacher at Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City Bryan Trego, social studies at Botkins High School in Botkins Kathy Patron, speech, debate and communications teacher at Perry High School in Massillon We appreciate every Ohio teacher who is doing their best to serve every student in their classroom every day! Learn more HERE.   OHSAA rules changes: student athletes who transfer schools This week, Ohio High School Athletic Association member schools passed 12 of 13 proposed revisions to the OHSAA constitution and bylaws. Key impacts include changes that impact transferring students, or students placed on indefinite athletic suspension at other schools. All changes go into effect on August 1. Learn more HERE.   Want STEM resources that are out of this world? NASA invites Ohio educators and their classes to join NASA’s Next Gen STEM SPARX (Sparking Participation and Real-world eXperiences in STEM). SPARX is a free unique educator professional development opportunity. Educators receive professional development and can connect live to NASA subject matter experts throughout the experience so students can learn more about STEM careers. There are several upcoming information sessions; learn more HERE!   Apply to be a green ribbon school! The US Department of Education recognizes schools with environmentally friendly facilities, programs and education with a green ribbon. The application process is open now; apply HERE.   Local District News Beachwood City Schools: Beachwood teachers collecting stones to honor Holocaust victims in Poland Columbus City Schools: Security increased as students return to class following Hilltop schoolyard shooting Dayton Public Schools: High school students plan for success at Montgomery County Youth Leadership Summit Highland Local Schools: Ohio high school senior wins state team track title all by herself Indian Creek Local School District: Indian Creek teachers in line to receive one-time bonus as part of retention effort Westlake City Schools: Westlake computer science teacher receives state, national recognition

COMMUNITY REPORTING

Got news? Share it on the Community Reporting page today! Use our Community Reporting form to share celebrations, issues, and developments about honest education happening in schools, the State Board of Education, and the Ohio Statehouse. Shere HERE

EVENTS

REGISTER Building Momentum: Amplifying Freedom to Learn May 30, 7pm REGISTER

Education Action Alerts!

 

Week of May 8, 2023 Honesty Champions,  THANK YOU for protecting honest education across Ohio! With SO MANY harmful education bills moving in the Statehouse EVERY WEEK, we are sending weekly action alerts with specific ways to TAKE ACTION on fast-moving, high-priority bills. Each weekly action alert includes three important sections: TAKE ACTION - easy ways for YOU to help stop harmful, high-priority bills  HEARING NOTICES - legislative hearings that you can attend or watch NEW BILLS - new legislation impacting honest education You can find these bills and hearings on the Honesty Legislation Tracker page. 🚨 PLEASE SHARE 🚨 the WEEKLY ALERTS with students, educators, family, friends, colleagues, schools, orgs, groups, businesses, and neighboring communities.    TAKE ACTION   STOP HB 8 - The Ohio Unsafe Students Act HB 8 forces schools to out LGBTQ+ students to parents, regardless of harm or danger to student; requires teachers to report the use of any "sexually explicit material" to parents and provide alternative material; bill offers vague definition of "sexually explicit material" that targets LGBTQ+ identities and experiences • Learn More   TAKE ACTION   OPPONENT HEARING ON TUESDAY, MAY 9 - TESTIMONY NEEDED!  House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Tuesday, May 9, 3:30pm, Room 116 1) Submit testimony against House Bill 8 Submit by Monday, May 8, 3:30pm Send PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to OHRPrimary&SecondaryEducationCommittee@ohiohouse.gov More Testimony Info HERE 2) PACK the hearing room on Tuesday to oppose HB 8 Show up in opposition to this UNSAFE and dangerous legislation Share this graphic 3) Contact the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Tell legislators to VOTE NO on House Bill 8 Call HERE Email HERE  STOP HB 6 - Transgender Student Athlete Ban  HB 6 bans transgender students from participating on female sports teams in Ohio K-12 schools, colleges, and universities • Learn More   TAKE ACTION   POSSIBLE COMMITTEE VOTE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 House Higher Education Committee Wednesday, May 10, 10:30am, Room 17 1) Tell the House Higher Education Committee to VOTE NO on House Bill 6! Call HERE Email HERE  2) PACK the hearing room on Wednesday to oppose the HB 6  Show Ohio that ALL students should play! Share this graphic 3) Support & follow LGBTQ+ organizations  EqualityOhio, TransOhio, Kaleidoscope Youth Center,  LOVEBoldly, Trans Allies of Ohio, Diversity Center of NEO, Equitas Health, Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign, The Buckeye Flame   STOP SB 1 - State Takeover of Public Education State takeover of public education; shifts oversight of State Board of Education and Dept of Education to governor; strips significant roles and duties from State Board and state superintendent Learn More   TAKE ACTION    OPPONENT HEARING ON TUESDAY, MAY 9 - TESTIMONY NEEDED House Economic Workforce Development Committee Tuesday, May 9, 2pm, Room 114 1) Prepare Opponent Testimony HERE - submit by Mon, May 8, 2pm 2) Convert your testimony into an op-ed or letter to editor 3) SHARE with your school & community  4) Contact House Economic Workforce Development Committee Call HERE Email HERE 5) PACK the hearing room on Tu esday to oppose SB 1 Keep partisan power grabs OUT of Ohio education!    STOP HB 151 & SB 83 - Higher Ed Destruction Act  HB 151 & SB 83 are identical higher education bills that ban required DEI training, programs based on gender and race, partnerships with China, and employee strikes; require online posting of syllabi and  reporting and publishing of violations and performance evaluations; withhold state funding and tenure for violations • Learn More HB 151 & SB 83   TAKE ACTION   SPONSOR HEARING HB 151 & POSSIBLE AMENDMENT SB 83 Sponsor testimony for HB 151 on May 10, 10:30am, House Higher Ed Comm Possible amendment for SB 83 on May 2, 10am, Senate Workforce and Higher Ed Comm 1) Contact Committee members and YOUR legislators Tell Ohio Senators and Representatives to REJECT both bills! House Bill 151 Call House Higher Education Committee HERE Email HERE  Contact YOUR Representative HERE Senate Bill 83 Call Senate Workforce & Higher Education Committee HERE Email HERE Contact YOUR Senator HERE 2) Prepare Opponent Testimony for HB 151  DO NOT SUBMIT testimony until opponent hearing is announced!  Testimony Information HERE   STOP HJR 1/SJR 2 & SB 92 - Attacks on Direct Democracy HJR1 & SJR2 require 60% vote to approve any constitutional amendment; eliminate the 10-day cure period to gather additional signatures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment; require petitions proposing a constitutional amendment be signed by at least 5% of the electors in each Ohio county, instead of half of the counties • Learn More HJR 1 & SJR 2     TAKE ACTION   POSSIBLE FULL HOUSE VOTE ON HJR1/SJR2 & SPECIAL ELECTION  House Session: Wednesday, May 10, 2pm 1) Join the Statehouse Rally to Protect “One Person, One Vote” Wednesday, May 10, 12:30pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus  RSVP & share flyer 2) Contact Ohio Representatives  Urge Reps to vote NO on HJR 1/SJR 2 and NO on special elections! Contact Ohio Reps HERE   Follow these bills and more on our Legislation Tracker    HEARING NOTICES   Senate Workforce and Higher Education Tuesday, May 9, 10am, North Hearing Room Agenda • Watch Senate Bill 117 - Sponsor Hearing Establishes the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at the Ohio State University, and the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership at the University of Toledo; entities will use "intellectual diversity" to study the principles and ideals of the US Constitution and Western Civilization values, and develop the "next generation of leaders in the legal profession" • Learn More Senate Bill 83 -  No Testimony, Possible Amendment Higher education bill that bans required DEI training, programs based on gender and race, partnerships with China, and employee strikes; requires online posting of syllabi and reporting and publishing of violations and performance evaluations; withholds state funding and tenure for violations • Learn More House Bill 33 - Informal Hearing + Public Testimony State Budget for FY 2024-2025, establishes appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 • Learn More Testimony: IUC Presidents & Public Testimony Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to jake.dowling@ohiosenate.gov House Economic and Workforce Development Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 2pm, Room 114 Agenda • Watch Senate Bill 1 - All Testimony State takeover of public education; shifts oversight of State Board of Education and Dept of Education to governor; strips significant roles and duties from State Board and state superintendent • Learn More   Senate Education Committee Tuesday, May 9, 3pm, South Hearing Room Agenda • Watch House Bill 33 - Informal Hearing + Public Testimony State Budget for FY 2024-2025, establishes appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 •  Learn More Testimony:  Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to aaron.riggins@ohiosenate.gov House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Tuesday, May 9, 3:30pm, Room 116 Agenda • Watch HB 8 - Opponent Hearing Unsafe Student Act: Forces schools to out LGBTQ+ students to parents, regardless of harm or danger to student; requires teachers to report the use of any "sexually explicit material" to parents and provide alternative material; bill offers vague definition of "sexually explicit material" that targets LGBTQ+ identities and experiences • Learn More House Bill 103 - Proponent & Interested Party Testimony Creates a Social Studies Standards Task Force (with appointees of the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker) to develop K-12 social studies standards using the American Birthright: The Civics Alliance's Model K-12 Social Studies Standards • Learn More HB 117 - All Testimony, Possible Amendment, Possible Vote Eliminates retention provision in the Third Grade Reading Guarantee • Learn More Testimony: Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of testimony and this completed witness slip to OHRPrimary&SecondaryEducationCommittee@ohiohouse.gov House Higher Education Committee Wednesday, May 10, 10:30am, Room 17 Agenda • Watch House Bill 6 - Interested Party Testimony, POSSIBLE VOTE Bans transgender female student-athletes from female K-12 and higher education sports teams • Learn More House Bill 151 - Sponsor Testimony Higher education bill that bans required DEI training, programs based on gender and race, partnerships with China, and employee strikes; requires online posting of syllabi and reporting and publishing of violations and performance evaluations; withholds state funding and tenure for violations • Learn More     Senate Session   Wednesday, May 10, 1:30pm • Watch   House Session   Wednesday, May 10, 2pm • Watch   Senate Education Committee Wednesday, May 10, 4pm, South Hearing Room Agenda • Watch House Bill 33 - Informal Hearing + Public Testimony State Budget for FY 2024-2025, establishes appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 • Learn More Testimony:  Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to aaron.riggins@ohiosenate.gov Senate Workforce and Higher Education Thursday, May 11, 9am, North Hearing Room Agenda • Watch House Bill 33 - Informal Hearing + Public Testimony State Budget for FY 2024-2025, establishes appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 • Learn More Testimony:  Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to jake.dowling@ohiosenate.gov   Senate Education Committee Thursday, May 11, 11am, South Hearing Room Agenda • Watch House Bill 33 - Informal Hearing + Public Testimony State Budget for FY 2024-2025, establishes appropriations for fiscal years 2024-2025 • Learn More Testimony:  Testimony due 24 hours before scheduled hearing Email PDF of your testimony and this completed witness slip to aaron.riggins@ohiosenate.gov Follow these bills and more on Honesty's Legislation Tracker    NEW BILLS   Senate Bill 117 Establishes the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at the Ohio State University, and the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership at the University of Toledo; entities will use "intellectual diversity" to study the principles and ideals of the US Constitution and Western Civilization values, and develop the "next generation of leaders in the legal profession"  Introduced: May 3, 2023 Sponsors:  Sens Jerry Cirino, Rob McColley Committee: Senate Workforce & Higher Education Committee  Learn More House Bill 164 Establish Foster-to-College Scholarship Program Introduced: May 1, 2023 Sponsors:  Reps Dontavius L. Jarrells, Bill Seitz Committee: House Higher Education Committee Learn More STATEHOUSE RESOURCES Legislative Calendar HERE Senate Committee Schedule HERE House Committee Schedule HERE Watch LIVE & Recorded Meeting HERE Honesty Legislation Tracker HERE Learn More to Do More Visit the Honesty website to learn how you can help protect honest education across Ohio!