H.B.239, the testing reduction bill, is on the House floor today, Thursday May 28th at 1:00 p.m. Call your state representative this morning, leave a message and tell them to vote NO on H.B. 239. House leadership added an amendment that will combine the testing of American Government and American History. This constitutes a roll-back of what has been a successful Constitutional studies program in the Ohio classroom grades 8-12 for the past eight years. Currently, all Ohio school districts are required to teach one-half credit hour of American Government with an emphasis on the Founding Documents, and one-half credit hour for American History.
This has been in law since the passage of S.B. 165 of the 129th General Assembly. H.B. 239, with its amendment that was approved yesterday in the Primary and Secondary Education Committee, would combine the tests into one exam. This amendment was quickly rushed through the committee, and now they are rushing the bill on the floor today for a vote. The liberal teachers union is pushing for this reduction. What we accomplished with S.B. 165 eight years ago is working. Our students are learning the Constitution and our form of government. Let's keep that momentum going.
Call your Representative and urge them to vote NO on H.B. 239.
The history of and success story of S.B. 165, the Founding of America Documents Curriculum: After a 12-year effort, the Ohio Christian Alliance
, along with interested parties from across the state, urged the 129
th
General Assembly in 2012 to pass what became known as the Founding of America Documents Curriculum which requires the study of the original texts of the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, the Constitution of the United States with emphasis on the Bill of Rights, and the Ohio Constitution, and their historical context.
This project to strengthen American Government and American History standards in Ohio grades 8-12 is a success story. The proficiency rate for Ohio high school students in American Government is now 78%, up from 68% in 2016. The Founding of America Documents Curriculum has been an effective program in Ohio schools. We want to keep it going. H.B. 239 will be taking a step backwards by combining the two tests. That doesn't make sense. If something is working, we should keep the momentum going.
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all your representative and tell them to vote NO on H.B. 239. It is scheduled be on the House floor today.
