1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

House Bill 486 is not just misguided — it is a direct assault on constitutional principles and the integrity of public education. Ohio already has nearly 13,000 churches, and the United States recognizes more than 370 religions. Families who want religious instruction have endless opportunities to pursue it: parochial schools, private religious programs, weekend classes, and after‑school faith‑based activities. Nothing about current law prevents parents from choosing those options. Public schools are different by design. They exist to serve every student — every belief, every background — without elevating one faith over another. Their mission is to teach critical thinking, civic responsibility, and respect for diversity. Injecting religiously affiliated programs like Turning Point or LifeWise into public schools violates that mission and erodes the constitutional wall that protects both education and religious freedom. Religious organizations are free to teach their doctrine. Public schools are not their platform. Turning Point and LifeWise have no rightful place inside taxpayer‑funded classrooms, and HB 486 attempts to force a religious agenda into institutions that must remain neutral to protect all families. Ohio does not need this bill, and it cannot afford the constitutional damage it would cause.