Bill > HB117

This bill amends Ohio state education law to require the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited daily in public schools, including city, local, exempted village, and joint vocational school districts. The legislation mandates that each school board adopt a policy establishing a specific time and manner for the daily pledge recitation. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that no student can be required to participate in the pledge or face intimidation for choosing not to participate, preserving students' constitutional rights. Schools are also prohibited from altering the official wording of the pledge as defined in federal law (4 U.S.C. 4). The bill encourages schools to develop lessons related to the American flag and pledge of allegiance as a way of promoting citizenship skills. Additionally, school districts are required to make their pledge policies publicly available, typically by posting them on their websites. The legislation also makes conforming changes to several other sections of Ohio education law to ensure consistent implementation across different types of schools, such as community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools.

Education

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb117