General Assembly activity
The Ohio General Assembly sent Senate Bill (SB) 89 to Gov. Mike DeWine for his approval. The bill originally revised the law regarding career-technical education and joint vocational school districts but was later amended by the House in February to make changes to the eligibility of Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program vouchers. The bill was amended in conference committee to alter eligibility criteria for the performance-based…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a revised mask order and new social gathering order will be issued. Links to the orders are forthcoming.
House Finance Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of House Bill (HB) 305, which creates a new school-funding formula. Testifying in support of the bill were:
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Education funding proposal
Sens. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 376, a companion bill to a forthcoming substitute bill for House Bill (HB) 305. Click here to view the bill. Click the links below to view the simulations of the Fair School Funding Plan. The educational service centers simulation is forthcoming.
Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) provided information about the impact of education settings on teacher evaluations. Additionally, ODE released a brief statement regarding the positive efforts of Ohio students and educators in complying with recommended health practices and, in particular, mask-wearing guidelines.
ODE has received inquiries about mask breaks and issued the following…
Education funding proposal
Sens. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) are expected to introduce companion legislation for House Bill (HB) 305 in the coming weeks. The companion bill will be the substitute version of HB 305 that Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) and Gary Scherer (R-Circleville) will also release in the coming weeks.
Pandemic education law flexibility
Senate Bill (SB) 358, which changes education law for the…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 17. The bill allows an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education (SBOE) voted 11-4 on a resolution to approve the SBOE’s fiscal year 2022-23 biennial…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that he has authorized a study that will focus on K-12 students who are quarantined due to meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s definition of close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The study is in response to school district superintendents expressing concerns about the number of students being quarantined.
Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education released resources regarding the…
Ohio Controlling Board
The Ohio Controlling Board approved a request to use $6 million from the CARES Act’s Coronavirus Relief Fund for K-12 mental health assistance to support capacity development, connection to community resources and implementation. The funding will be provided to ESCs that received funding through a competitive grant opportunity for preventive education funding in House Bill (HB) 166. Click here to read the application.
Education funding proposal
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Senate activity
The Senate passed House Bill (HB) 17 by a vote of 32-0. The bill allows an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty. The bill will now be sent to the governor.
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 16 by a vote of 31-1. The bill, which…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 606. The bill prohibits bringing a civil action for damages for injury, death or loss to person or property against businesses, the state, local governments and schools, among others, if the cause is due to exposure to COVID-19. Click here to read an analysis of the bill.
Additionally, DeWine signed HB 272. The bill expands court jurisdiction; prohibits a public official from changing the time, place or…