Ohio Bill Proposes Schools Must Publicly Disclose Their Pledge of Allegiance Policies

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Ohio K-12 schools could soon be required to publicly disclose their Pledge of Allegiance policies under a new bill introduced in the state legislature. House Bill 657, known as the Transparency in Pledge of Allegiance Act, was introduced in August and aims to enhance transparency by mandating that school districts make their policies regarding the Pledge of Allegiance publicly available.

Currently, Ohio law requires local boards of education to adopt a policy specifying whether the Pledge of Allegiance is recited in their schools, including details on how and when it is recited. While the pledge is not a required part of the school day, Ohio law prohibits boards of education from denying teachers reasonable periods of time to recite the pledge. Importantly, teachers cannot compel students to participate in the recitation.

The new bill, sponsored by Representatives Gail Pavliga (R-Atwater) and Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), seeks to slightly modify the existing law by adding a requirement for school districts to post their Pledge of Allegiance policies on their websites, if available. The intention is to ensure that parents and community members are fully informed about their local schools’ practices.

Representative Richardson emphasized the importance of transparency and the unifying nature of the pledge. “As a veteran who believes and understands the significance of our flag and the pledge... I want to keep parents informed, empowering them to engage with their schools about this important issue,” she said.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a committee, but Richardson expressed optimism that it will pass out of the House by the end of the year.

The Supreme Court's 1943 ruling in West Virginia v. Barnette established that public school students cannot be forced to salute or pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag. However, in 46 states, including Ohio, there are requirements that schools set aside time for the pledge, with many states also providing exemptions or reminders that students cannot be compelled to participate.

If passed, House Bill 657 would further clarify and publicize schools’ Pledge of Allegiance policies, ensuring that Ohioans are fully aware of how this practice is handled in their local schools.