Facts in a Flash

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that students in K-12 schools will continue to learn remotely through the end of the academic school year.

Ohio House of Representatives
Speaker Larry Householder announced that starting on May 4, House members’ staffs will return to the Riffe Center but will work on a staggered schedule. Additionally, Householder announced that committee meetings will resume but with social distancing protocols. Click here to read the memo regarding staff…

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released an updated FAQ that provides further guidance for districts pertaining to adjusting the school calendar. ODE released new information to help districts with grading, promotion and retention of students from one grade to the next.…

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education has released information to help districts with graduation, Ohio School Report Cards, educator evaluation…

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine issued two executive orders that extended the closure of K-12 schools and the state’s stay-at-home order through May 1. A link to the executive order regarding the closure of K-12 schools can be found here and a link to the stay-at-home order can be found here.

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE…

Congress
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed House Resolution 748, the CARES Act, that President Donald Trump is expected to sign into law. The legislation contains several education-related items, including:

• $13.5 billion for elementary and secondary education, received through formula grants to states, at least 90% of which must support local educational agencies’ coronavirus-response activities. Funds will be distributed to states using the Every Student Succeeds…

Congress
President Donald Trump signed into law House Resolution 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The legislation contains several education-related items including:
• An emergency paid sick leave program that includes individuals unable to work because they are caring for a child who is home because of a virus-related school closing.
• An expansion of federal food assistance for families affected by a virus-related school closure of five or more days. The bill permits…

Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency to address the spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, he released other executive orders restricting mass gatherings of over 100 people and the closure of all Ohio schools from the end of the school day on Monday, March 16, through Friday, April 3. This order includes all public, community and private K-12 schools in the state. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) will release a FAQ to assist districts and the public. A link to the executive order and the…

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 212 by a vote of 29-1. The bill would provide a full or partial tax exemption to developers and owners of newly constructed homes within specified areas during the construction period and for 10 years after the home is occupied.

Senate Ways and Means Committee…

Senate activity
The Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 8 by a vote of 31-1. The resolution urges Congress to enact The Sunshine Protection Act of 2019, which would permanently extend daylight saving time.The Senate also passed Senate Bill (SB) 125 by a vote of 31-1. The bill would expand the income tax…

EdChoice vouchers

The conference committee on House Bill (HB) 9 continued with hearings this past week. HB 9 includes the Senate’s plan to address the voucher issue. Members of the committee consist of Don Jones (R-Freeport), who serves as chairman, Reps. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and Phillip M. Robinson Jr. (D-Solon) and Sens. Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House) and Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo). Sen. Kristina D. Roegner (R-Hudson) served as a…