House activity
The Ohio House voted to elect Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) as Speaker of the House by a vote of 54-43. Rep. C. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) was re-elected as minority leader by a vote of 73-14. Additional leadership positions elected include:
General Assembly activity
The General Assembly sent the following bills to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature:
House Bill (HB) 45- sponsored by Reps. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield). The bill would allow the state tax commissioner to administer a two-month amnesty program in 2023 with respect to delinquent state, local sales and use taxes and also certain fees. Earlier in the week, the bill was amended in the Senate Finance committee and included…
Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 178, sponsored by Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), by a 22-7 vote. The bill would reform the functions and responsibilities of the State Board of Education (SBOE), the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), and would implement the following provisions:
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced the list of schools receiving funds from the K-12 School Safety Grant Program. A total of 708 schools will receive $57.8 million in grant funding to enhance student and staff safety. Click here for the list of schools. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) will administer the funds using procedures determined by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the Ohio Department of…
House Leadership
The House Republican caucus met and selected Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) to be the speaker in the upcoming General Assembly that begins January 3, 2023. In addition, the other majority leadership members selected are as follows:
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education’s (SBOE) Executive Committee passed a resolution that would start the process of selecting a search firm to assist in hiring a state superintendent of public instruction.
Additionally, the SBOE Executive Committee discussed a resolution that would support Ohio’s Attorney General’s participation in a lawsuit challenging proposed federal rules that interpret Title IX as banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender…
State Teachers Retirement Board
The State Teachers Retirement Board (STRS) unanimously voted to direct staff to seek legislation to authorize the STRS Board to increase the employer contribution rate. Click here for the Legislative update presentation and here for the recording.
Federal update
Please click…
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education voted 12-7 to send a resolution to the executive committee for further consideration. The resolution opposes the proposed changes to the federal rule that would interpret Title IX as banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Click here to read the resolution.
The Ad…
State Board of Education
The State Board of Education approved a resolution to authorize the Ohio Department of Education to put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a search firm with the purpose of finding candidates for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Federal update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report that includes education related information.
Ohio Department of Education
ODE has the…
Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education released the 2021-22 Ohio School Report Cards for districts and buildings. The report card includes the modifications from House Bill 82, the bill that revised the state report card. The state report cards will contain stars and descriptors in five of the components for districts and buildings. There will not be an overall star rating until next year, and the College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness Component will not have a rating until the 2024-25 school year. Click…
