State Board of Education
The State Board of Education (SBOE) held a public meeting this week.[KG1]  State Superintendent of Public Education Paul Craft updated the board on its financial status and outlook for the rest of the biennium. Current projections from the SBOE show that the board will have $3.5 million deficit by year’s end. The SBOE will consider raising licensure fees to minimize financial losses.

Department of Education and Workforce
The Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) also held a public meeting this week to provide an update on literacy and allow for public comment on the administrative rules proposed for review. Dr. Melissa Weber-Mayrer gave an update on the implementation of the science of reading across Ohio’s school districts and on the progress of the professional development for educators in the science of reading to serve Ohio’s students.

DEW has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

Draft rules open for comment:

OAC 3301-13-11 Identification, instruction, assessment, and reclassification of English learners

  • Rule-3301-13-11

OAC 3301-16-08 State seal of biliteracy

  • Rule -3301-16-08

OAC 3301-51-09: Delivery of services

  • Rule-3301-51-09

OAC Chapter 3301-2 Personal Information Systems

  • OAC 3301-2-14 Confidential personal information definitions.
  • OAC 3301-2-15 Procedures for accessing confidential personal information.
  • OAC 3301-2-16 Valid reasons for accessing confidential personal information.
  • OAC 3301-2-18 Restricting and logging access to confidential personal information in computerized personal information systems.

OAC Chapter 3301-3 Data Acquisition Sites

  • OAC 3301-3-01 Scope and definitions.
  • OAC 3301-3-03 Information technology center permit eligibility and application.
  • OAC 3301-3-04 Information technology center permit validity and revocation.
  • OAC 3301-3-05 Responsibilities of the department.
  • OAC 3301-3-06 Responsibilities of an information technology center and a user entity.
  • OAC 3301-3-07 Performance requirements.

OAC Rule 3301-10-0

  • OAC 3301-10-01 School enrollment for victims of domestic violence.

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

New Bills Introduced

  • House Bill (HB) 445, sponsored by Reps. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Gary Click (R-Vickery), regarding school district policies for released time courses in religious instruction.
  • HB 447, sponsored by Rep. Mike Loychik (R-Bazetta), modifies and expands property tax homestead exemptions, to gradually reduce school districts' 20-mill floor, and to modify the formula for determining farmland's current agricultural use value.

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

Posted by Scott Palider on 3/15/2024