If you want to be part of Governor Kasich’s program to mentor for Ohio school children, you’ll have to have a religious affiliation.
The Ohio Department of Education is now soliciting grant applications from organizations, but interested parties must have a faith-based connection to be accepted.
When Governor Kasich proposed the Community Connectors mentorships at his State of the State address in February, he mentioned faith–based organizations, but he didn’t make it a prerequisite.
“All of us in Ohio, we’re hungry to help,” Kasich said. “We know what’s missing out there; we just don’t always know how to do it. And the Community Connectors is going to give us a chance to listen to the better angel inside all of us to figure out how to make a difference in someone’s life.”
The state will use $10 million a year from state lottery money for mentorships that include representatives of business, education, or community and faith-based organizations.
Now state School Superintendent Richard Ross and an advisory council for the program have added a requirement to include a religious-based partner.
Education department spokesman John Charlton says faith partners can demonstrate high moral character and values to students but, he says, religious instruction or proselytizing will be prohibited.
The state will award the grants in March.
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