H.B. No. 639 - Student Protection Act Summary

• Requires all high school health instruction courses to include self-defense training beginning with students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2023.

• Self-defense instruction must include a demonstration provided by a school resource officer or another certified self-defense instructor.

• Self-defense training courses count toward professional development requirements for teacher license renewal under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

• School districts and chartered nonpublic schools have discretion to determine which courses meet training requirements and how often health instructors must complete self-defense training.

• Applies to public and chartered nonpublic high schools, including community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools.