Educators oppose Ohio bill targeting diversity programs in schools
About 80 educators and advocates oppose legislation that would ban diversity programs in Ohio schools, citing vague language that could affect any initiative.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — About 80 educators and advocacy groups submitted testimony opposing legislation that would ban diversity and inclusion efforts in Ohio’s public elementary and secondary schools, criticizing the bill’s vague language during a recent state Senate committee hearing.
Ohio Senate Bill 113 would require every local school board in the state to adopt policies ending current diversity and inclusion offices or departments and prohibiting any diversity, equity, and inclusion orientation or training programs. The legislation also would prevent districts from creating new DEI offices or using diversity language in job descriptions.
Critics Target Vague Language
Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper testified against the measure during last week’s Ohio Senate Education Committee meeting, highlighting concerns about the bill’s imprecise terminology.
“This bill is frustratingly vague about what does and doesn’t qualify as prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives,” Cropper said during the hearing.
ACLU of Ohio Legislative Director Gary Daniels echoed similar concerns about the lack of specific definitions in the proposed legislation.
“When school administrators, school staff, parents, stakeholders, and the state legislature all get to define for themselves (and others) what is ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ then everything is diversity, equity, and inclusion and subject to banning,” Daniels said.
Bill’s Origin and Support
State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, introduced the legislation last year as part of broader efforts to restrict diversity programs in educational settings. However, Brenner recently lost his Republican primary race, meaning the 2027 General Assembly will be the first without him since 2011.
Fewer than 10 people submitted testimony supporting the bill, according to legislative records.
Statewide Impact
If passed, the legislation would affect all public school districts across Ohio, requiring them to dismantle existing diversity programs and prohibiting future initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and equity in educational settings.
The Senate Education Committee has not yet scheduled a vote on the measure, and it remains unclear whether the bill will advance through the legislative process before the current session ends.
