Ohio governor signs law mandating religious instruction release time in schools

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed a new law requiring school districts to implement a mandatory religious instruction release time policy. This law will take effect 90 days after signing and mandates that educators inform parents about students' sexuality. The law, known as House Bill 8, was passed during the final day of the 2024 legislative session. It prohibits teaching sexuality content to students in kindergarten through third grade and requires schools to notify parents about any sexuality-related materials. Previously, Ohio allowed school districts to create their own policies on religious release time. The new law makes it a requirement, providing clarity for programs like LifeWise Academy, which offers off-campus religious instruction.