Several Ohio laws recently went into effect last month, and are aimed at how schools provide certain health services to students and how schools notify parents of services offered. To prepare for complying with these laws next school year, districts should review the following information on HB 8 and healthcare services, SB 234 and suicide prevention, and HB 206 and seizure action plans.
Ohio Enacts Parents’ Bill of Rights
This week, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 8 (“HB 8”), also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which, among other things, requires public school districts to adopt a policy that promotes parental involvement in the public school system by providing parental notification on student health and well-being and instructional materials that contain sexuality content as well as reaffirms a parent’s right to make decisions regarding their child’s education. HB 8 also includes provisions related to release time for religious instruction.
The bill will take effect within 90 days of the Governor’s signature – on or about April 8, 2025.