RESOLUTION RESOLUTION TO ADVANCE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN K-12 EDUCATION SAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS FREE FROM SOCIAL IDENTITY POLICIES ‘THAT MAY INFRINGE UPON THE UNALIENABLE RIGHTS OF PARENTS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS. Whereas the Declaration of Independence states, “..that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; Whereas the Ohio State Board of Education's (OSBE) sacred oath of office is to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio: Whereas the OSBE regularly pledges allegiance to “... the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for alt; Whereas laws are made by state and federal legislators, the Executive branch has no lawful authorization to ereate law or reinterpret the intent of law (Article I, Section 1 Constitution of the United States; and Article Il, Section 1, Constitution of the State of Ohio); ‘Whereas the powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved 10 the states and the people (Article 1, Section 20, Constitution of the State of Ohio; Amendment X. Constitution of the United States); Whereas Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was enacted into law based on the Declaration of Independence’s promise of equal rights to ensure that, “No person in the United ‘States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected fo discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance”, Whereas the U.S. Department of Education, on July 12, 2022, entered into the federal registry for public comment the proposed changes to the department's Title IX regulations, redefining “sex” to include “sexual orientation and gender identity,” destroying the very protections and rights of female students that the 1972 Title IX Educational Amendments provide and as promised in the Declaration of Independence; Whereas the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1972 Wisconsin v. Yoder case, declared that parental rights have been “established beyond debate as an enduring American tradition”; Whereas Ohio parents are free to protect their families and to seek and obtain happiness and safety (Article I, Section 1, Constitution of the State of Ohio), and to follow the dictates of their ‘consciences (Article I, Section 7, Constitution of the State of Ohio), ‘Whereas the OSBE seeks excellence in education for all children and families, without discrimination or respect to race, ethnicity, or sex; ‘Whereas tax funded schools in the United States have traditionally taken a position alongside parents (taxpayers), supporting them as the ultimate authority on the welfare of the child;Whereas the proposed changes to Title IX deprive federally funded educational institutions and employees of freedom of speech and due process protections memorialized in the Constitutions of our state and our nation; Whereas the OSBE resolutely supports parents’ God-ordained authority in all matters conceming medical evaluations, counscling, and treating any and all health issues pertaining to the child. ‘The Journal of Adolescent Health states the brain's, “...underlying ‘executive functions’ such as planning, working memory, and impulse control are among the last areas of the brain to ‘mature; they may not be fully developed until midway through the third decade of life,” therefore, a school aged child is not capable of making health choices that have a life changing lasting impact (The Journal of Adolescent Health, “Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy.” Sara B. Johnson, Ph. D., M.P.H.: Robert W. Blum, M.D., Ph.D.; and Jay N. Giedd, M.D.; Published June 27, 2010, pgs. 216-221); and, Whereas the innocence of children must be protected and preserved, as gender affirmation and conversion therapy policies and protocols may revoke or severely limit the possibility of reversal when the child reaches maturit Now, Therefore Be It Resolved that, with this resolution, the OSBE reaffirms its unwavering commaitment to excellence in education for all; education that empowers each student to reach his or her full potential as a member of the next great generation of Ohioans; and, pe It Further Resolved, the OSBE urges the General Assembly to oppose and take appropriate policy action to address Title IX regulatory changes and to protect and uphold student and parental rights as wel as local control of sthools and dstits as defined in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3313.