COLUMBUS, Ohio — Teaching critical race theory has been a hot topic of discussion politically, among parents and educators.
Simply put, critical race theory is the idea that to understand American history, you must consider the role of race and racism.
THE QUESTION
Is critical race taught in any central Ohio public school and is it part of the state curriculum?
THE SOURCES
Mandy Minick with the Ohio Department of Education
THE ANSWER
No, critical race theory is not part of the state curriculum.
WHAT WE FOUND
Mandy Minick with the Ohio Department of Education said that the department provides a model curriculum that schools may choose to use.
"The state model curricula are completely optional, and, in fact, are intended more as extensions of the standards and not really daily lessons or pacing and sequencing guides," she said.
Minick references Ohio Revised Code 3301.079 which she said in part states, "Nothing in this section requires any school district to utilize all or any part of a model curriculum developed under this section."
She also says the law reserves for local schools and districts sole authority for adopting curriculum.
It explicitly articulates that local boards have complete control over curriculum decisions as follows:
"(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district and the board of each cooperative education school district established, pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe a curriculum for all schools under its control."
"To sum it up, there are statewide standards which apply to schools. There is no required curriculum," Minick said.
10TV reached out to some local school districts about this and for example, Columbus City Schools, Westerville City Schools, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools and Hilliard City Schools all confirmed they do not teach critical race theory in any grades.
There have been several bills proposed in Ohio addressing teaching critical race theory.