Senate Education Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 1, sponsored by Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), which would rename the Department of Education as the Department of Education and Workforce and would create the position of Director of Education and Workforce. The bill also would reform the functions and responsibilities of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Senate Government Oversight Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 18, sponsored by Sen. Steve Wilson (R-Maineville), which would eliminate the obsolete requirement that school districts or school buildings in academic emergency or academic watch submit information to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) before approval of a three-year continuous improvement plan. It also eliminates the obsolete requirements for site evaluations for districts or buildings in academic emergency or academic watch. All of the obsolete requirements in question expired on June 30, 2008. The bill also modifies the type of communication through which ODE must distribute required notice of certain events or certain services. Additionally, the bill allows school districts to meet via electronic means to conduct a hearing for students and parents regarding notice to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles for excessive unexcused student absences from school; and allows a county, township, or municipal corporation to meet with a school district to discuss the terms of an agreement for the creation of a tax-exempt district. Lastly, the bill removes the requirement that a school district publish, in a newspaper of general circulation, notice of intent to donate property that is not needed, obsolete, or unfit for the district’s use with a value of less than $2,500; but maintains requirement of continual posting of such notice in the school district board’s office; and permits a nonprofit organization to submit electronically its written notice to a school district board of its desire to obtain donated district property.

Federal update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report that includes education related information.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 1/20/2023