LOCAL CONTROL: Removing Divisive Curriculum

Unfortunately, Ohio has no legal definition for “divisive” and “inappropriate” curricula. Past attempts to define ”divisive” and “inappropriate” at the State level have been either subjective or not broad enough to encompass everything that could conceivably be considered “divisive” or “inappropriate.” So, the only way for parents to get anything changed is to either beg the current school board members or to remove the current school board members in the next election cycle and replace them with members who acknowledge the parents’ wishes. All the while - children are being taught against their parents' wishes. It is far from a parent-friendly system, which is ultimately where local control belongs.

Ohio must provide a meaningful way to define a detrimental curriculum and a meaningful way to define a beneficial curriculum and provide a method for removing divisive topics and including beneficial ones.

Parents deserve to have recourse if the school board has been led astray by particular interests or by legal consultants that push an ideological agenda that is divisive or detrimental to students. We propose legislation that allows 25% of student parental households (at least one parent in a household agrees) for that grade or class to sign a petition to remove a divisive or inappropriate curriculum or study materials - it should be removed. 

Parents need recourse to include non-divisive and beneficial materials that they believe are necessary to a good education. We believe that if 67% of student parental households (at least one parent in a household agrees) for that grade or class sign a petition to add beneficial curriculum or study materials - it should be added unless 25% of student parental households oppose such a removal. We contend that the state legislature should provide a statute to add curriculum or study materials by petitioning the parents.

It is important to note that a student’s household regulates this percentage and not by all parents or by the general public.

Parental Input and Control of Curriculum Act

Section 1: Definitions

• Beneficial Curriculum: Curriculum or study materials that enhance the educational experience and align with the values and interests of at least 67% of parental or guardian households with at least one parent or guardian concurring by petition.
• Detrimental Curriculum: Curriculum or study materials that are considered harmful, divisive, inappropriate, or contrary to the values and interests of 25% of parental or guardian households having at least one parent or guardian concurring by petition.
• School Board: The governing body of a public school district within Ohio.
• Parental Household: A household with at least one parent or guardian responsible for a student enrolled in the relevant school district.
• Petition: A written request signed by parents or guardians of students in the same grade or class.

Section 2: Removal of Detrimental Curriculum or Study Materials

• If 25% or more of parental households of students in a particular grade or class sign a petition requesting the removal of curriculum or study materials they consider detrimental, the school board shall promptly remove, within seven days, such materials.

Section 3: Addition of Beneficial Curriculum or Study Materials

• If 67% or more of parental households of students in a particular grade or class sign a petition requesting the addition of curriculum or study materials they consider beneficial, the school shall make provisions to add that curriculum within 30 days unless 25% or more of parental households oppose the addition by petition.

Section 4: Public Input

• The school board shall provide an opportunity for public input and consultation in the review process for both removal and addition of curriculum or study materials.
• The public input process must include meetings, debates, and written submissions.

Section 5: Implementation

• The State Board of Education shall develop and publish guidelines and procedures for the petition process and require schools to provide parents with an unbiased and easy way to collect signatures physically, in person, and electronically through a web portal or a phone app.
• Parents must never be charged a fee to collect signatures.
• Only parents may collect signatures.
• School boards shall share parental contact information with fellow parents with students in the same class or grade.
• Decisions made by the school board regarding curriculum or study materials shall be documented and made available to the public.

Section 6: Appeals

• Parents or guardians who disagree with a decision made by the school board may appeal through established channels within the school district, including but not limited to the board of education or an appointed review committee.