BILL WOULD PERMIT TEACHING ABOUT RELIGION’S
“POSITIVE INFLUENCE” IN AMERICAN HISTORY CLASSES
The Ohio House of Representatives has passed the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, which allows public-school history classes to teach about the positive contributions of religion — including Christianity — to U.S. history.
The Ohio House has passed a controversial and highly discussed education bill named the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, a measure that would permit teachers to present the “positive influence of religion and Christianity” when covering American history. The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
Supporters of the legislation argue that religion played an undeniable role in the nation’s founding, civic institutions and cultural development. They say the bill gives educators the ability to cover religious influence without fear of administrative backlash or misinterpretation of church-state boundaries.
Critics, however, warn that the bill may blur constitutional lines between public education and religious endorsement. Opponents argue that the legislation could open the door to biased or selective interpretations of history that elevate Christianity above other faiths or secular viewpoints.
Lawmakers backing the bill insist it does not mandate religious instruction, nor does it require schools to teach Christianity specifically. Instead, they frame it as allowing teachers to include historical context previously avoided due to legal ambiguity.
Education experts say the measure could spark lawsuits if interpretations vary district to district. School administrators across Ohio are monitoring the bill closely, anticipating the need for new guidelines on curriculum design and teacher training.
If approved by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would take effect in the upcoming academic year, making Ohio one of the few states explicitly permitting positive religious framing in public-school history classrooms.
