House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee introduced a substitute version of HB 214, sponsored by Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport), which would require each public school to adopt a policy regarding certain expectations related to the performance of staff member professional duties. The substitute bill:

  • eliminates terms "opine about" and "social action" from the legislation;
  • removes the requirement that school districts make a declaration that its “expects all professional staff members to maintain high standards with respect to co-worker relationships and in the performance of the staff member’s professional duties”;
  • prohibits a school district from using statements of commitment to specific beliefs, affiliations, ideal, or principles concerning political movements or ideology as part of the academic evaluation of students;
  • states that nothing in the bill requires school districts to make protected legal communications or guidance publicly available.

The committee also accepted a substitute version of HB 206, sponsored by Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana), which would permit a school district to establish a policy that authorizes a superintendent to expel a student from a public school for actions that endanger the health and safety of other students or school employees. The substitute bill now: 

  • requires a superintendent to consult with a multidisciplinary team when making student reinstatement determinations;
  • define "sufficient rehabilitation" and "severe and imminent danger";
  • clarifies what professionals are qualified to provide mental health assessments for suspended students;
  • shifts the cost of such assessments from students' families to schools and districts;
  • extends the deadline for establishing a continuing education plan for a suspended student from five to 15 days;
  • requires a student's individualized education program team to be included in developing the continuing education plan.

The committee amended SB 17, sponsored by Sen. Steve Wilson (R-Mainesville), which would require the State Board to update the standards and model curriculum for financial literacy and entrepreneurship in grades nine-12 to include free market capitalism content. The two amendments do the following:

  • allows students to fulfill the financial literacy high school graduation requirement by completing Advanced Placement courses in microeconomics or macroeconomics;
  • exempts math teachers from a required license validation needed to teach financial literacy.

The committee passed HB 147, sponsored by Reps. Sara Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) and Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus), which would make changes to teacher licensure revocation, teacher hiring practices and conduct unbecoming to the teaching profession.

Senate Education Committee
The committee amended  SB 29, sponsored by Sen. Stephen A. Huffman (R-Tipp City), which would enact laws pertaining to technology providers for education records and data. The bill would require school districts to make public certain information regarding the technology providers they use. The bill also limits what school districts can access or monitor on a school-issued device. The amendments do the following: 

  • makes the information available to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities;
  • gives the State Board the authority to take disciplinary action if a teacher shares confidential information about a student.

The committee held a second hearing on SB 162, sponsored by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), which would require public schools to provide certain academic intervention services to each student who demonstrates a limited level in math and English language arts.

The committee also held a second hearing on SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). The bill would make the following changes:

  • permits a school district to renew its exemption from certain statutory requirements related to every three years, rather than one three-year term only and requires the Department of Workforce and Education (DEW) to notify districts that are eligible about this exemption;
  • permits school districts to develop and use their own frameworks for teacher evaluation, instead of using a framework developed by the State Board;
  • modifies license or certificate qualifications for senior or lead professional educators, holders of a professional pupil services license, holders of professional administrator or alternative superintendent licenses, and nonteachers employed as teachers;
  • eliminates seniority as a preference when making reductions in nonteaching staff positions;
  • changes certain professional development requirements related to dyslexia training and the coordination of continuing education and professional development;
  • eliminates a requirement that districts enter supplemental contracts with teachers assigned to teach classes outside the normal school day;
  • permits a school district to apply for a waiver from dyslexia screening requirements if the district proves that a student previously received a dyslexia screening in the prior school year;
  • clarifies that a school district is not required to hold a separate, individual public hearing on a proposed school calendar, but that the calendar may be addressed as part of another public hearing or meeting;
  • removes several policies and programs from the laws governing the Department of Workforce and Education and the State Board that are obsolete.

OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators and Alliance for High Quality Education submitted joint proponent testimony that can be found here. Additional proponent testimony was submitted by:

House Government Oversight Committee

The committee amended and heard proponent testimony on HB 257, sponsored by Reps. James M. Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Thaddeus J. Claggett (R-Newark), which would authorize certain public bodies to meet virtually, including the School Employees Retirement Board. School boards, among other boards, are not included in the authorization. The amendment does the following; 

  • removes an exception permitting boards of elections to have virtual meetings within 90 days of an August special election;
  • requires notification of a virtual meeting or hearing to include an agenda;
  • requires objections to agenda items to be sent to the chair no later than 48 hours before the meeting or hearing.

Proponent testimony submitted by OSBA, OASBO, and BASA can be found here.

House Transportation Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 279, sponsored by Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield), which would require occupant restraining devices to be installed on all school buses within five years.

The committee also held a second hearing on HB 140, sponsored by Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester), which would increase penalties for passing a school bus and allow the use of cameras on school buses. Proponent testimony submitted by OSBA, OASBO and BASA can be found here. Additional testimony was submitted by Mark Tyler, superintendent, Hamilton Local (Franklin). 

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

Posted by Scott Palider on 10/27/2023