House Dems detail support for full investigation of at-home hate schools in Ohio

COLUMBUS – Ohio House Democratic Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) and Rep. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) today sent a letter to the Ohio Department of Education detailing their support for a state investigation and review of home-schooling procedures following news that an Upper Sandusky couple propagated a pro-Nazi curriculum to online forums that indoctrinate home schooled children into hate. The Ohio Department of Education this afternoon indicated an investigation would be forthcoming.

“Teaching hate to children has no place whatsoever in any kind of classroom. As we continue to understand how hate schools operate in Ohio, we must ensure our leaders at the Department of Education and in the legislature are doing everything possible to prevent this from ever happening again,” said Leader Russo. “Ohio's children deserve the best early learning and healthy development experiences possible that will best equip them for lifelong success.”

“Home schooling plays a vital role for many families in Ohio. And one bad apple shouldn’t ruin the bunch, said Rep. Miranda. “But, there are several bills currently being backed by Republicans at the Statehouse that would weaken, not strengthen, home schooling oversight and would also underfund public schools to send even more tax dollars to individuals who potentially may be running hate schools.”

Ohio Senate Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 11, which weaken Ohio home school laws and send tax dollars away from public school to home schools, respectively.