The ESC BRIDGE
Bridging Resources, Information, and Data from
Government and Education
For the Week of January 9, 2017
Featured News
Ed. Dept. Awards $3 Million for 'Pay For Success' Early Learning Feasibility Pilots Education Week
Eight government organizations will receive a share of $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to study how private money can be used to expand public preschool in their communities. The recipients are the Napa Valley Unified district, the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Ventura County Office of Education, all in California; the Minnesota Department of Education, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, the Cuyahoga County Office of Early Learning in Ohio, Clatsop County in Oregon and the Legacy Charter School in South Carolina.
National, Federal, US Department of Education
AFT President: Unqualified 'Ideologue' Betsy DeVos Could Undo ESSA Consensus Education Week
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, is unqualified to lead the U.S. Department of Education and threatens to undo the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said Monday. In a speech at the National Press Club, Weingarten said of DeVos, a Michigan school choice and Republican political activist: "She is poised to swing her Michigan wrecking ball all across America. If Donald Trump wanted an ideologue, he found one."
Obama's Legacy on K-12 One of Bold Achievements, Fierce Blowback Education Week
President Barack Obama entered the White House in 2009 amid the wreckage of the Great Recession and with education high on his list of domestic priorities. He scored some early game-changing policy victories on teacher quality, academic standards, and school turnarounds during his first term, but faced a big backlash in his second. That reaction threatened the longevity of his signature initiatives and made it virtually impossible to enact similarly sweeping change in new areas, including early-childhood education.
Federal Education Department Assesses Job Prospects for Career College Programs Hannah
More than 800 career college programs aren't helping their students get jobs that can help them pay back the loans they took out to attend the program, according to new ratings from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). For-profit institutions had the worst showing, the department said. Regulations adopted in 2014 set a benchmark for programs to be considered to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation: annual loan payments for typical graduates that don't exceed 20 percent of discretionary income or 8 percent of total earnings. Programs that can't meet that threshold are at risk of losing the ability to participate in federal student financial aid programs.
Democrats Seek Delay for Betsy DeVos' Confirmation Hearing Over Ethics Review Education Week
Democrats want to push back a confirmation hearing for President-elect Donald Trump's pick for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, until her paperwork detailing any potential conflicts of interest has been cleared by the congressional Office of Government Ethics. The confirmation hearing for DeVos, a GOP megadonor and advocate for school choice, is set for Wednesday. She is one of a handful of Trump's nominees whose ethics paperwork has not yet been cleared, prompting concerns from the OGE and congressional Democrats.
Making Sure That Schools Measure Up Under ESSA Education Week
The Every Student Succeeds Act seeks to turn over key decisions on school accountability to states, while maintaining federal protections or "guardrails" for historically overlooked groups of students. States and districts will get to decide how to handle teacher evaluation, gauge school progress, and fix their lowest-performing schools.
Ten Questions Senators Could Ask Education Secretary Nominee Betsy DeVos Education Week
Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Education, will be on the hot seat next Tuesday, Jan. 17. She'll be taking questions from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee at her confirmation hearing. For the most part, past confirmation hearings haven't been particularly fiery. But what are some tough questions senators could ask DeVos?
Sen. Alexander Praises Betsy DeVos After Meeting, Expects Quick Confirmation Education Week
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., the chairman of the Senate education committee, said Betsy DeVos will be an "excellent education secretary" after meeting Tuesday with President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Education. "I'm looking forward to her hearing because I know she will impress the Senate with her passionate support for improving education for all children. I am fully confident that she will be swiftly confirmed by the full Senate," Alexander said in a statement.
Ohio Legislation Update (recent bill action in red)
131st General Assembly
House
HB1 WORKFORCE GRANT PROGRAM (Rep. Kirk Schuring, Rep. Nathan Manning) To establish the Workforce Grant Program, to authorize an income tax credit equal to 25% of the student loan payments a grant recipient makes per year, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Re-Referred to House Finance Committee
HB2 CHARTER SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP (Rep. Mike Dovilla, Rep. Kristina Roegner) With regard to sponsorship and management of community schools
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 2/1/16
HB5 PUBLIC OFFICE-STATE AGENCY EFFICIENCY STUDIES (Rep. Stephanie Kunze, Rep. Kyle Koehler) To allow the Auditor of State to conduct business case studies regarding the efficiency of local public offices and state agencies
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/14/16
HB7 ASSESSMENT SCORE DETERMINATIONS (Rep. Jim Buchy) To prohibit individual student scores from certain elementary and secondary achievement assessments administered for the 2014-2015 school year from being used to determine promotion or retention or to grant course credit
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective immediately
HB12 TIF-INCENTIVE DISTRICTS (Rep. James Butler, Jr., Rep. Tony Burkley) To establish a procedure by which political subdivisions proposing a tax increment financing (TIF) incentive district are required to provide notice to the record owner of each parcel within the proposed incentive district before creating the district
STATUS: House Ways & Means Committee – Reported out as amended; Passed by House, Vote 65-22
HB15 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERSHIP (Rep. Ron Gerberry) To change the voting membership of the State Board of Education to consist of a member from each of several electoral districts with boundaries coinciding with the state's Congressional districts and a president to be appointed by the Governor if there is an even number of such electoral districts
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB20 CONCEALED CARRY-SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE (Rep. Anne Gonzales, Rep. Kyle Koehler) To expand and clarify the authority of a concealed handgun licensee to possess a handgun in a school safety zone
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House State Government Committee
HB25 FOOD-DRINK SCHOOL SALES (Rep. Stephanie Kunze) To require the State Board of Education to adopt rules regarding the sale of beverages and food during the regular school day in connection with a school-sponsored fundraiser
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB27 FINANCIAL AID-FINISH FUND (Rep. Dan Ramos) To create the Finish Fund and the Finish Reserve Fund to provide grants to students who are nearing completion of their associate or bachelor's degrees and display financial need or hardship
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB28 SUICIDE PREVENTION-HIGHER EDUCATION (Rep. Marlene Anielski) With regard to suicide prevention programs at state institutions of higher education
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 10/14/15
HB39 SCHOOL-CAMP INHALER PERMIT (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Anthony DeVitis) To permit schools and camps to procure and use a metered dose inhaler or dry powdered inhaler used to alleviate asthmatic symptoms in accordance with prescribed policies and to exempt them from licensing requirements related to the possession of these inhalers
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 2/1/16
HB42 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND (Rep. Ron Gerberry, Rep. Jack Cera) To require that, for fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Local Government Fund must receive the same proportion of state tax revenue that the Fund received in fiscal year 2005
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Finance Committee
HB43 CLASSROOM FACILITIES-PROPERTY TAX ROLLBACKS (Rep. Ron Gerberry) To revise the law governing classroom facilities assistance programs and to restore the application of the 10% and 2.5% property tax rollbacks to school district tax levies approved on or after the effective date of Am. Sub. H.B. 59 of the 130th General Assembly
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB44 LOTTERY PROFITS-SCHOOLS (Rep. Ron Gerberry) To require that a portion of lottery profits be distributed annually on a per pupil basis to public and chartered nonpublic schools
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB46 GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE DATABASE (Rep. Mike Dovilla, Rep. Jonathan Dever) To require the Treasurer of State to establish the Ohio State Government Expenditure Database
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate Finance Committee
HB50 FOSTER CARE-ADOPTION ASSISTANCE AGE (Rep. Dorothy Pelanda, Rep. Cheryl Grossman) - To extend the age for which a person is eligible for federal foster care and adoption assistance payments under Title IV-E to age twenty-one, to provide a ward's bill of rights, to require that a guardian receive the Ohio Guardianship Guide, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/13/16
HB52 WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW (Rep. Robert Hackett) To make changes to the Workers' Compensation Law, to make appropriations for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2017, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of the Bureau's programs
STATUS: Passed House 96-0
HB54 VOCATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS-OFFICE TERMS (Rep. Marlene Anielski) To revise the law regarding terms of office of members of certain joint vocational school district boards of education
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Education Committee
HB55 THIRD-GRADE READING GUARANTEE (Rep. Robert Sprague) To specify deadlines for the administration of reading skills assessments for purposes of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Education Committee
HB56 PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT-CRIMINAL RECORDS (Rep. Kirk Schuring, Rep. Stephen Slesnick) To limit the use of criminal records in the hiring and employment practices of public employers
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 3/23/16
HB63 CHILD ABUSE-NEGLECT REPORTING (Rep. Dorothy Pelanda, Rep. Cheryl Grossman) To require mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect to notify the county public children services agency when an attorney in fact under a document that purports to grant parental rights requests services from them
STATUS: Referred to Senate Civil Justice Committee
HB64 OPERATING BUDGET (Rep. Ryan Smith) To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2017, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective immediately
HB70 SCHOOL RESTRUCTURING (Rep. Denise Driehaus, Rep. Andrew Brenner) To authorize school districts and community schools to initiate a community learning center process to assist and guide school restructuring
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 10/14/15
HB74 PRIMARY-SECONDARY ASSESSMENTS (Rep. Andrew Brenner) With regard to the administration of state primary and secondary education assessments
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate Education Committee
HB81 SPECIAL ELECTIONS (Rep. Steve Hambley) To eliminate the ability to conduct special elections in February and to require a political subdivision to prepay sixty-five per cent of the estimated cost of a special election
STATUS: Referred to House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB85 CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION (Rep. Dan Ramos, Rep. Christina Hagan) With respect to age-appropriate student instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention
STATUS: Referred to the Senate Education Committee
HB89 MEDICAID SCHOOL PROGRAM (Rep. Anthony DeVitis) Regarding the Medicaid School Program
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB92 SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES-SEXUAL CONDUCT (Rep. Christina Hagan) To prohibit an employee of a public or nonpublic school or institution of higher education who is not in a position of authority from engaging in sexual conduct with a minor at least four years younger than the employee who is enrolled in or attends that public or nonpublic school or who is enrolled in or attends that institution of higher education
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
HB99 INCOME TAX-SCHOOL FUNDING (Rep. Mike Curtin) To require that an amount equal to state income tax collections, less amounts contributed to the Ohio political party fund via the income tax checkoff, be distributed for the support of elementary, secondary, vocational, and special education programs
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB113 CPR-GRADUATION REQUIREMENT (Rep. Cheryl Grossman, Rep. Nathan Manning) To require instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator as a requirement for high school graduation
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/14/16
HB114 SCHOOL DOOR-BARRICADE (Rep. Kristina Roegner, Rep. Heather Bishoff) To require the Board of Building Standards to adopt rules for the use of a barricade device on a school door in an emergency situation and to prohibit the State Fire Code from prohibiting the use of the device in such a situation
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee
HB118 TUITION FEES (DeVitis, T., Patmon, B.) With respect to tuition overload fees at state institutions of higher education.
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB120 HIGHER EDUCATION GRANTS (Schuring, K.) To create the Ohio Higher Education Innovation Grant Program and to make an appropriation.
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB130 PUBLIC RECORDS-DATA BOARD (Rep. Christina Hagan, Rep. Mike Duffey) To create the DataOhio Board, to specify requirements for posting public records online, to require the Auditor of State to adopt rules regarding a uniform accounting system for public offices, to establish an online catalog of public data at data.Ohio.gov, to establish the Local Government Information Exchange Grant Program, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Passed by House, Vote 90-0
HB132 CONTRACEPTION COVERAGE-EDUCATION (Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan, Rep. Heather Bishoff) Regarding coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, the provision of certain hospital and pregnancy prevention services for victims of sexual assault, and comprehensive sexual health and sexually transmitted infection education in schools
STATUS: Referred to House Health & Aging Committee
HB133 NONPROFIT DEGREE-TAX CREDIT (Rep. Tim Schaffer, Rep. Michael Ashford) To authorize an income tax credit for individuals that earn a nonprofit management degree or certain professional designations and to allow a sales tax exemption for out-of-state nonprofit corporations that relocate jobs to Ohio
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB136 STEM PROGRAM-LAKE COUNTY (Rep. Ron Young, Rep. John Rogers) To fund the Lake County Educational Service Center pilot project to support STEM initiatives for middle school students and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB137 ORGAN DONATION-HEALTH CURRICULUM (Rep. Cheryl Grossman, Rep. Debbie Phillips) To require the health curriculum of each school district to include instruction on the positive effects of organ and tissue donation
STATUS: House Education Committee – Reported out
HB138 STATE TESTING WAIVER (Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, Rep. Kyle Koehler) To revise the requirements regarding the administration of the state achievement assessments, to require the Department of Education to request a waiver from federal testing requirements, and to declare an emergency
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB145 STEM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (Rep. Robert McColley, Rep. Stephanie Howse) To establish the STEM Public-Private Partnership Pilot Program to provide high school students the opportunity to receive education in a targeted industry while simultaneously earning high school and college credit and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB146 CURSIVE HANDWRITING (Rep. Cheryl Grossman, Rep. Andrew Brenner) To require instruction in cursive handwriting
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB148 CLASSROOM FACILITIES ASSISTANCE (Rep. John Patterson, Rep. Sarah LaTourette) To require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to provide classroom facilities assistance to a school district resulting from the consolidation of two or more school districts or from the voluntary transfer of the entire territory of a school district if specified conditions are satisfied
STATUS: Passed by House, Vote 74-15; Referred to Senate Finance Committee
HB153 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY DATE (Rep. Mike Dovilla) - To change the date on which presidential primary elections are held
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/10/15
HB156 CHARTER SCHOOL OVERSIGHT (Rep. Kristina Roegner, Rep. John Patterson) To make changes to the law regarding governance, operation, and management of community schools, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB158 INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY TERM (Rep. Jonathan Dever, Rep. Stephanie Howse) To change the variations of the term "mentally retarded person" to "person with an intellectual disability”
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 10/12/16
HB160 TEXTBOOKS-HIGHER EDUCATION (Rep. Anthony DeVitis) With regard to the selection, availability, and purchase of textbooks that are required for a course offered by any state institution of higher education
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB166 LOCAL TAX-FISCAL REVISIONS (Rep. Doug Green) To extend the deadline for filing an application for the homestead exemption or 2 1/2% property tax rollback to the end of the tax year, to require that auditors certify Local Government Fund allocations to subdivisions by regular or electronic, rather than certified mail, and to repeal laws requiring county auditors to issue permits for traveling shows, issue licenses for new merchandise public auctions, certify the annual state tax interest rate to local courts, and provide certain certifications related to the repealed personal property tax
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/8/16
HB174 GRADUATE DEGREE-ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS (Rep. John Barnes, Jr.) With regard to entrepreneurial skills education requirements for professional graduate degree programs at state institutions of higher education
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB181 ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION-AUTO UPDATE (Rep. Kathleen Clyde) To require that eligible persons in certain government and school databases be automatically registered to vote or have their registrations updated automatically unless those persons decline to do so and to create an online voter registration system
STATUS: Referred to House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB183 STUDENT TRUSTEE-VOTING AUTHORITY (Rep. Niraj Antani, Rep. Michael Stinziano) To grant student members of the boards of trustees of state universities and the Northeast Ohio Medical University voting power and the authority to attend executive sessions
STATUS: House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee – Reported out as amended
HB192 SAFETY ENHANCEMENT STANDARDS (Rep. John Rogers, Rep. Rick Perales) To require the State Board of Education to adopt rules prescribing standards for safety enhancements to new public and nonpublic school facilities and to require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to revise its construction and design standards to comply with the State Board's standards
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB200 EPINEPHRINE AUTOINJECTORS (Rep. Christina Hagan) To permit epinephrine autoinjectors for which no prescriptions have been written to be stored and accessed for use in case of emergency
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/8/16
HB212 ACADEMIC STANDARDS-CURRICULA (Rep. Andrew Thompson) With regard to state achievement assessments, statewide academic content standards and model curricula, and teacher and administrator evaluations
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Education Committee
HB221 TOBACCO USE-PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Rep. Margaret Ann Ruhl, Rep. Michael Ashford) To revise the law regarding tobacco and nicotine use in public schools and at public school-sponsored functions
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Health & Aging Committee
HB223 YOUTH ATHLETICS-MINOR EMPLOYMENT (Rep. Michael Stinziano) To allow minors to be employed by a youth athletic program if certain conditions are satisfied
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB231 PROPERTY VALUATION COMPLAINTS (Rep. Cheryl Grossman, Rep. Jeffrey McClain) To require counties, municipal corporations, townships, and school boards that file complaints against the valuation of property they do not own to pass a resolution approving the complaint and specifying the compensation paid to any person retained to represent the county, municipal corporation, township, or school board in the matter of the complaint
STATUS: Introduced
HB274 APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS (Hagan, C.) To create a subprogram of the College Credit Plus Program that permits students to participate in certified apprenticeship programs. Am. 3365.16
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB287 YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT (Rep. John Barnes, Jr.) To require the Director of Development Services to establish a youth summer jobs pledging initiative to increase access to summer employment opportunities for high school and college youth
STATUS: Referred to House Economic & Workforce Development Committee
HB299 CUSTODIAN-AUTISM SCHOLARSHIP (Rep. Louis Blessing III, Rep. Jeffrey Rezabek) To permit the temporary, legal, or permanent custodian of a qualified child to apply for an Autism Scholarship
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 8/31/16
HB308 TEXTBOOKS-TAX EXEMPTION (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Michael Stinziano) To exempt from sales and use tax textbooks purchased by post-secondary students
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB311 PENSION-SALARY PERCENTAGE (Rep. Kirk Schuring) To base the percentage of an employee's salary that must be contributed to the State Teachers Retirement System to mitigate the effect of the employee's participation in an alternative retirement program on the average percentage used to amortize the Retirement System's unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities
STATUS: Referred to House Health & Aging Committee
HB323 SCHOOL DISTRICTS-LICENSE PLATES (Rep. Marlene Anielski, Rep. Bill Patmon) To provide for the issuance of public school district license plates and private school license plates
STATUS: Referred to House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
HB340 LOCAL GOVERNMENT INNOVATION COUNCIL (Rep. Ron Amstutz) To extend the operation of the Local Government Innovation Council until December 31, 2019, and to declare an emergency
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective immediately
HB346 PER-PUPIL STATE FUNDING (Rep. Andrew Brenner) To require that each city, local, and exempted village school district receive a per-pupil amount of state funding that is at least as much as the statewide per pupil amount paid for chartered nonpublic schools in Auxiliary Services funds and for administrative cost reimbursement
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Finance Committee
HB350 AUTISM TREATMENT-COVERAGE (Rep. Cheryl Grossman, Rep. Louis Terhar) To mandate coverage of autism treatment
STATUS: House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee – Reported out
HB355 EMPLOYEE DEFINITION (Rep. Wes Retherford) To create a generally uniform definition of employee for specified labor laws and to prohibit employee misclassification under those laws
STATUS: Referred to House State Government Committee
HB372 EDUCATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNEL (Rep. Debbie Phillips) To require city, exempted village, and local school districts to employ, for each 1,000 students, at least five full-time equivalent educational service personnel in specified areas
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB379 ACADEMIC DISTRESS COMMISSIONS (Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan) With regard to the operation of academic distress commissions and to modify the earmarked funding for the establishment of academic distress commissions
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB382 OHIO PRINCIPALS MONTH (Rep. David Leland) To designate the month of October as "Ohio Principals Month”
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB383 INFORMED STUDENT DOCUMENT (Rep. Christina Hagan, Rep. Robert McColley) To require one-half unit of economic and financial literacy in the high school social studies curriculum, to require the Chancellor of Higher Education to prepare an informed student document for each state institution of higher education, to require the State Board of Education to include information on the informed student document in the standards and model curricula it creates for financial literacy and entrepreneurship
STATUS: Referred to the Senate Education Committee
HB384 HIGHER EDUCATION AUDITS (Rep. Tim Schaffer, Rep. Mike Duffey) To specify that state institutions of higher education may be subject to performance audits conducted by the Auditor of State
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB391 FINANCE LITERACY PROGRAM (Rep. Louis Terhar) To require the Chancellor of Higher Education to create the SmartOhio Financial Literacy Pilot Program at the University of Cincinnati to operate for the 2016-2017 school year and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/28/16
HB399 COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS-HOME INSTRUCTION (Rep. Kyle Koehler) To increase the earmarked funding for the College Credit Plus Program for home instructed students
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB410 TRUANCY (Rep. Jeff Rezabek, Rep. Bill Hayes) - With regard to habitual and chronic truancy and compulsory school attendance
STATUS: Passed by Governor
HB420 OPT-OUTS-STATE ASSESSMENTS (Rep. Kristina Roegner) To prohibit the Department of Education from including students who "opt-out" of state assessments in calculations of certain grades in the state report card and to declare an emergency
STATUS: House Education Committee – Bill amended
HB425 RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION-STUDENTS (Rep. Bill Hayes) Regarding student religious expression
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate Education Committee
HB426 CAREER COLLEGES-JOB PLACEMENT (Rep. Niraj Antani) To require the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools to report and post job placement information
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB438 WEEK DESIGNATION (Rep. John Patterson) To designate the week prior to the week of Thanksgiving Day as "Ohio Public Education Appreciation Week”
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB445 COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS-EXTRACURRICULARS (Rep. Mike Dovilla, Rep. Marlene Anielski) To make changes to the College Credit Plus program and to specify that students participating in the program shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities based solely upon participation in the CCP program
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB454 SALES TAX HOLIDAY-PERMANENT (Rep. John Patterson) To provide for a permanent three-day sales tax "holiday" each August during which sales of back-to-school clothing and school supplies are exempt from sales and use taxes
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB455 BOARDING SCHOOL ZONE (Rep. John Patterson, Rep. Kristina Roegner) To authorize a municipal corporation or township to establish a boarding school zone and a special speed limit within that zone
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB458 FOSTER CARE-KINSHIP CAREGIVER (Rep. Janine Boyd, Rep. Jeffery Rezabek) - To provide foster care maintenance payments for children in the care of a kinship caregiver without requiring the caregiver to be certified to provide foster care and to require, rather than permit, the creation of the statewide program of kinship care navigators
STATUS: House Community & Family Advancement Committee – Substitute bill accepted
HB459 EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER-AUDIT (Rep. Kirk Schuring) - To authorize the Auditor of State to conduct a performance audit of an educational service center and to require a comprehensive performance audit of all educational service centers
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB474 HIGHER EDUCATION-COLLEGE CREDIT PLUS (Rep. Tim Brown) With respect to the coordination and administration of higher education programs and the College Credit Plus program
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB481 STUDENT ENROLLMENT REPORTING (Rep. Andrew Thompson, Rep. Kyle Koehler) To revise the requirements regarding student enrollment reporting for public schools, mandatory student withdrawal policies, and scholarship program eligibility relative to students who choose not to take state assessments during the 2015-2016 school year and to declare an emergency
STATUS: House Education Committee – Reported out as amended
HB482 EXEMPT PROPERTY-VALUE CALCULATION (Rep. Jonathan Dever) To change the calculation of the exempt value of improved property subject to a community reinvestment area exemption, to clarify the calculation of the exempt value of property subject to a brownfield remediation exemption, and to authorize the filing of a complaint with the county auditor challenging the assessed value of fully or partially exempt property
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB483 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES-MBR (Rep. Ron Amstutz) To modify programs administered by the Department of Developmental Disabilities and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB485 INCOME TAX DEDUCTION-TUITION (Rep. Dan Ramos) To reinstate the state income tax deduction for qualified higher education tuition and fee payments that expired December 31, 2005
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB487 STATE SEAL-BILITERACY (Rep. Sarah LaTourette, Rep. Kristina Roegner) To require the State Board of Education to establish the state Seal of Biliteracy to be attached or affixed to the high school transcripts of qualifying students
STATUS: House Education Committee – Reported out as amended
HB493 CHILD ABUSE-NEGLECT REPORTING (Rep. Barbara Sears, Rep. Scott Ryan) To make changes in the child abuse and neglect reporting law
STATUS: (Passed by House) Passed by Senate as amended on Floor, Vote 21-10; House concurs, Vote 56-39
HB496 STUDENTS-UNIFORMED SERVICES (Rep. John Boccieri) To enact the "Student to Soldiers Support Act (S3A)" regarding the participation of students who are serving in the uniformed services in extracurricular activities at public and nonpublic schools and public and private colleges
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB498 EXPULSION-THREAT OF VIOLENCE (Rep. Stephanie Kunze) With respect to the expulsion of a student from a school district, community school, or STEM school for communicating a threat of violence to occur on school grounds
STATUS: House Education Committee – Substitute bill accepted
HB501 YOUTH STEM PROGRAM (Rep. Mike Dovilla, Rep. Marlene Anielski) To support the Youth STEM Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Program and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB504 HIGHER EDUCATION-PUBLIC RECORDS (Rep. Kirk Schuring) To generally protect a private, nonprofit institution of higher education from liability for a breach of confidentiality or other claim that arises from the institution's disclosure of public records
STATUS: Referred to House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB508 FISCAL DISTRESS-LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING (Rep. Kent Smith, Rep. Kristin Boggs) To make supplemental appropriations to the Auditor of State for purposes of distributing these funds to political subdivisions in fiscal caution, watch, or emergency
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB520 PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS (Rep. Kirk Schuring, Rep. Dan Ramos) To revise the law governing the state's public retirement systems
STATUS: Signed by Governor
HB524 STATE REPORT CARD MEASURE (Rep. Bob Cupp, Rep. Ryan Smith) To review the value-added progress dimension measure used for purposes of state report card ratings for school districts and schools
STATUS: Introduced
HB530 SICK-CHILD CENTER-LICENSURE (Rep. Wes Retherford) To provide for the licensure of sick-child care centers
STATUS: Referred to House Commerce and Labor Committee
HB544 HIGH SCHOOL CIVICS ASSESSMENT (Rep. Kyle Koehler, Rep. Al Landis) To permit high school students to take a civics assessment instead of the American government end of-course examination
STATUS: Introduced
HB547 OBM-MBR (Rep. Ryan Smith) To provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs and to make appropriations
STATUS: House Finance Committee – Substitute bill accepted
HB549 STEM DEGREE LOAN REPAYMENT (Rep. John Patterson) To create the STEM Degree Loan Repayment Program and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced
HB550 SCHOOL FACILITIES-TECHNOLOGY PURCHASING (Rep. Steve Arndt) To require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to establish a program assisting school districts in purchasing technology and making physical alterations to improve technology infrastructure and school safety and security
STATUS: Introduced
HB556 SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Heather Bishoff) To make boundaries of certain school districts that are parties to an annexation agreement permanent under state law
STATUS: Referred to House Education Committee
HB560 COMMUNITY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (Rep. Steve Hambley) Regarding verification of community school enrollments
STATUS: Introduced
HB563 INCOME TAX-LAYOFFS (Rep. Dan Ramos) To provide for payments to municipalities or school districts for their lost income tax revenue after a business lays off 50 or more employees within their jurisdiction
STATUS: Introduced
HB564 STUDENT IMMUNIZATION (Rep. Dan Ramos) To make changes to the law governing immunizations for pupils
STATUS: Introduced
HB565 TAX CREDIT-STUDENT LOANS (Rep. Dan Ramos) To allow a credit against the income tax or commercial activity tax for graduates or employers who make payments on student loans obtained by the graduate to earn a degree from an Ohio college or university
STATUS: Introduced
HB568 EMPLOYEE DEFINITION-LABOR LAWS (Rep. Debbie Phillips, Rep. John Rogers) To create a generally uniform definition of employee for specified labor laws, to create a uniform standard to determine whether an individual performing services for an employer is an employee of that employer, and to regulate the payment of wages via payroll card
STATUS: Introduced
HB570 INTERDISTRICT-OPEN ENROLLMENT (Rep. Brian Hill) Regarding funding for students enrolled in community schools, STEM schools, and other districts through interdistrict open enrollment
STATUS: Introduced
HB571 CAREER INFORMATION-STUDENTS (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Kristin Boggs) Regarding the presentation of career information to students
STATUS: Introduced
HB583 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES-REQUIRED DUES (Rep. John Becker) To remove any requirement under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Law that public employees join or pay dues to any employee organization, to prohibit public employers from requiring public employees to join or pay dues to any employee organization, to prohibit an employee organization from being required to represent public employees who are not members of the employee organization, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Re-Referred to House Commerce & Labor Committee
HB594 COMMUNITY SCHOOL AUDIT-PUBLIC MONEY (Rep. Kristina Roegner) Regarding public moneys returned to the state as a result of a finding of recovery issued pursuant to an audit of a community school
STATUS: House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB628 SCHOOL FUNDING (Rep. Andrew Brenner) All subject to the approval of the electors of this state, to replace locally levied school district property taxes with a statewide property tax and require recipients of certain tax exemptions to reimburse the state for such levy revenue lost due to those exemptions; to repeal school district income taxes; to require the Treasurer of State to issue general obligation bonds to refund certain school district debt obligations
STATUS: Introduced
Senate
SB3 HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICT EXEMPTION (Sen. Cliff Hite, Sen. Keith Faber) To exempt high-performing school districts from certain laws
STATUS: Signed by Governor
SB4 IN-STATE TUITION REDUCTION (Sen. Keith Faber) To require each state institution of higher education to develop a plan to reduce in-state student cost of attendance by five per cent for the 2016-2017 academic year
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB6 JOINT COMMITTEE ON OHIO COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY (Sen. Shannon Jones, Sen. John Eklund) To increase the maximum income tax deduction for college savings contributions to $10,000 annually for each beneficiary
STATUS: (Passed by Senate) Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
SB12 INCOME TAX CREDIT-SCIENCE RELATED DEGREE (Sen. Jay Hottinger) To grant an income tax credit to individuals who earn degrees in science, technology, engineering, or math-based fields of study
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB19 OHIO COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANT (Sen. Tom Sawyer) To make changes to the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, to limit state university over load fees, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB20 CHARTER SCHOOLS-RECORD KEEPING (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) Regarding audit and record-keeping requirements for community school sponsors and operators
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB22 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND-ALLOCATION INCREASE (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To increase monthly allocations to the Local Government Fund from 1.66% to 3.68% of the total tax revenue credited to the GRF each month
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB24 OHIO COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANT QUALIFICATION (Sen. Sandra Williams) To qualify students in noncredit community college programs for Ohio College Opportunity Grants and to require the awarding of academic credit for community colleges’ career certification programs
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB34 SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY-DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR (Sen. Charleta Tavares) With respect to school district policies for violent, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB39 PEDESTRIAN RIGHT OF WAY-SCHOOL ZONE (Sen. Bill Beagle) To increase the penalties for failing to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian who is crossing a roadway within a crosswalk when the crosswalk is located within a school zone
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Criminal Justice Committee
SB42 MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT-MINORS (Beagle B) Regarding minors and outpatient mental health treatment
STATUS: Senate Health & Human Services Committee – Reported out
SB43 COLUMBUS STATE LOGISTICS PROGRAM (Sen. Jim Hughes) To establish the Columbus State Logistics Program and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB59 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS-STATE APPROPRIATED FUNDS (Sen. Michael Skindell) With respect to the use of state-appropriated funds by operators of community schools
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB71 TRIO-PROGRAM APPROPRIATION (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To make an appropriation for the provision of state matching funds for federal TRIO programs at Ohio institutions of higher education for FY 2016 and FY 2017
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB73 MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To require community colleges, state community colleges, technical colleges, and university branches to comply with minority business enterprise set-aside requirements, and to require the Director of Administrative Services to establish guidelines for these entities, and the Northeast Ohio Medical University, to establish procurement goals for contracting with EDGE business enterprises
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB78 GED GRANT PROGRAM (Sen. Sandra Williams) To create the GED Grant Program for undergraduate students who have earned high school equivalence diplomas and are enrolled in two-year state institutions of higher education and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB82 GED-TEST COST (Sen. Sandra Williams) With regard to the administration and cost of the tests of general educational development required to earn a high school equivalence diploma
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB85 PROPERTY-TAX COMPLAINTS (Sen. William Coley) To limit the right to initiate most types of property tax complaints to the property owner and the county recorder of the county in which the property is located
STATUS: Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB92 SCHOOL SAFETY FUNDS (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) To require the State Board of Education to establish criteria and procedures for the awarding of school safety funds to school districts and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB93 BULLYING PREVENTION FUNDS (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) To require the State Board of Education to establish criteria and procedures for the awarding of bullying prevention and education funds to school districts and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB94 MEDICAID SCHOOL PROGRAM (Sen. Kevin Bacon, Sen. Peggy Lehner) Regarding the Medicaid School Program
STATUS: Referred to Senate Medicaid Committee
SB101 CONTRACEPTION EDUCATION (Sen. Capri Cafaro) Regarding coverage for prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, the provision of certain hospital and pregnancy prevention services for victims of sexual assault, and comprehensive sexual health and sexually transmitted infection education in schools
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Health & Human Services Committee
SB121 IMMUNIZATIONS (Hite, C.) To require pupils to be immunized against meningococcal disease at an age recommended by the Department of Health.
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 10/14/15
SB122 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (Gentile, L.) To extend eligibility for the homestead exemption to elderly or disabled homeowners who did not receive the exemption for 2013 and have $30,000 or more in Ohio adjusted gross income.
STATUS: Introduced
SB125 SCHOOL BARRICADES (LaRose, F., Hottinger, J.) To require the Board of Building Standards to adopt rules for the use of a barricade device on a school door in an emergency situation and to prohibit the State Fire Code from prohibiting the use of the device in such a situation.
STATUS: Referred to Senate Transportation, Commerce & Labor Committee
SB126 OPEN ENROLLMENT (Sawyer, T.) To terminate interdistrict open enrollment on that date with the possibility of renewal following the General Assembly's examination of the study's findings.
STATUS : Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB136 SCHOOL SECLUSION ROOMS (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To prohibit the use of seclusion on students in public schools
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB144 STEM PROGRAM-LAKE COUNTY (Sen. John Eklund) To fund the Lake County Educational Service Center pilot project to support STEM initiatives for middle school students and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB148 CHARTER SCHOOL OVERSIGHT (Sen. Peggy Lehner, Sen. Tom Sawyer) To make changes to the law regarding governance, operation, and management of community schools, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance – Education Subcommittee
SB158 AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION (Sen. Kenny Yuko) To require that eligible persons in certain government and school databases be automatically registered to vote
STATUS: Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB163 COMMON CORE STANDARDS (Sen. Kris Jordan) With respect to the Common Core State Standards academic standards, powers of the State Board of Education, and the distribution of student information
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB168 STUDENT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR INFORMATION (Sen. Frank LaRose) To require the Education Management Information System to include information regarding persons at whom a student’s violent behavior that resulted in discipline was directed
STATUS: (Passed by Senate) House Education Committee – Reported out as amended
SB173 SPECIAL ELECTIONS (Sen. Kris Jordan) To eliminate the ability to conduct special elections in February and August
STATUS: Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB217 LOCAL OFFICIAL-CONTINUING EDUCATION EXEMPTION (Sen. John Eklund) To permit exemptions for local officials from continuing education requirements of the office for an illness or disability or for out-of-state military service
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee
SB220 OHIO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE-ROTH FEATURES (Sen. Jay Hottinger) To authorize the Ohio Public Employees Deferred Compensation Board and local governments to establish designated Roth account features and other tax-deferred or non-tax deferred features permitted for government deferred compensation plans
STATUS: Introduced
SB230 ACADEMIC DISTRESS COMMISSION (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) With regard to the operation of academic distress commissions and to modify the earmarked funding for the establishment of academic distress commissions
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB234 STUDENT ENROLLMENT-CHILDREN SERVICES (Sen. Capri Cafaro) To require specified public and nonpublic school officials to search the Uniform Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB235 INCREASED VALUE-PROPERTY TAX (Sen. Bill Beagle, Sen. William Coley) To exempt from property tax the increased value of property on which industrial or commercial development is planned until construction of new commercial or industrial facilities at the property commences
STATUS: (Passed by Senate) House Finance Committee – Substitute bill accepted & bill amended; Reported out; Passed by House, Vote 81-9; Senate concurs, Vote 29-2
SB238 MONTH NAME DESIGNATION (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To designate the month of October as "Ohio Principals Month”
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB240 FEDERAL FOSTER CARE (Sen. John Eklund) To extend the age for which a person is eligible for federal foster care and adoption assistance payments under Title IV-E to age twenty-one; and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced
SB241 EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS-EMPLOYMENT (Sen. Frank LaRose) With regard to the employment of specified education professionals by city, exempted village, and local school districts
STATUS: Introduced
SB246 CAUV COMPUTATION-CAPITALIZATION RATE (Sen. Cliff Hite) To require that the computation of the capitalization rate for the purposes of determining CAUV of agricultural land be computed using a method that excludes appreciation and equity buildup
STATUS: Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB247 SCHOOL DISTRICT-SUMMER MEALS (Sen. Edna Brown, Sen. Peggy Lehner) To require school districts to allow alternative summer meal sponsors to use school facilities to provide food service for summer intervention services under certain conditions
STATUS: Senate Finance Committee – Reported out as amended; Passed by Senate, Vote 33-0
SB250 CHARTER SCHOOLS-STATE MONEY (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) To prohibit community schools from using state moneys to pay for advertising, recruiting, or promotional materials
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB252 CARDIAC ARREST-YOUTH ACTIVITY (Sen. Cliff Hite, Sen. Tom Patton) With regard to sudden cardiac arrest in youth athletic activities
STATUS: Signed by Governor
SB264 SALES TAX HOLIDAY-PERMANENT (Sen. Kevin Bacon) To provide for a permanent three-day sales tax "holiday" each August during which sales of back-to-school clothing and school supplies are exempt from sales and use taxes
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 8/5/16 until 8/10/16
SB274 SMARTOHIO FINANCIAL LITERACY PILOT PROGRAM (Sen. Bill Seitz) To require the Chancellor of Higher Education to create the SmartOhio Financial Literacy Pilot Program at the University of Cincinnati to operate for the 2016-2017 school year and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB309 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR-REPORT (Sen. Frank LaRose) To require a school bus operator who files a report alleging that a vehicle passed the school bus while stopped to include in the report a description of the operator of the vehicle if possible, rather than requiring a description of the operator in all circumstances
STATUS: Introduced
SB310 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS (Sen. Scott Oelslager) To make capital appropriations and changes to the law governing capital projects for the biennium ending June 30, 2018
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 8/16/16; certain provisions effective 7/1/2016
SB321 PUBLIC RECORDS (Sen. Keith Faber) To create a procedure within the Court of Claims to hear complaints alleging a denial of access to public records and to modify the circumstances under which a person who files a mandamus action seeking the release of public records may be awarded court costs and attorney's fees
STATUS: Signed by Governor – Effective 9/28/16
SB323 CHILD ABUSE-NEGLECT REPORTING (Sen. Shannon Jones) To make changes in the child abuse and neglect reporting law
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Civil Justice Committee
SB326 SCHOOL DISTRICTS-TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT (Sen. Randy Gardner) To require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to establish a program assisting school districts in purchasing technology and making physical alterations to improve technology infrastructure and school safety and security
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB328 HOST FAMILY AFFIDAVITS (Sen. William Coley) Regarding host family affidavits for the care of children
STATUS: Senate Civil Justice Committee – Bill amended
SB354 SCHOOL FACILITIES COMMISSION-FUNDING (Sen. John Eklund, Sen. Capri Cafaro) To require the School Facilities Commission to give priority for project funding to school districts that resulted from certain types of transfers, mergers, or consolidations and demonstrate an efficient use of facility space as determined by the Commission
STATUS: Introduced
SB367 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS (Sen. Bill Beagle) To revise the laws governing the state's workforce development system, programs that may be offered by primary and secondary schools, and certificates of qualification for employment
STATUS: Referred to Senate State & Local Government Committee
SB376 OHIO BROADBAND GRANTS PROGRAM (Sen. Lou Gentile) To create the Ohio Broadband Development Grant Program and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced
Ohio Budget and Politics
Rosenberger Announces House Committees, Chairs, Vice Chairs for 132nd General Assembly Hannah
Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) Thursday announced the committees, the chairs and vice chairs for the 132nd General Assembly. This year, there are 21 standing committees and seven subcommittees - six of those are the subcommittees for the House Finance Committee with the addition of the State Government and Agency Review Subcommittee. This is up from the 19 standing committees and six subcommittees in the 131st General Assembly.
Kasich on Budget: ‘It’s Going to Be Tough; It’s Going to Be Tight.” Hannah
Addressing economic development leaders Thursday, Gov. John Kasich continued to say that he expects a tight budget and said he will do everything possible to make sure his successor gets a budget in balance. The event, hosted by the Columbus Partnership, also featured remarks from Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) and Speaker Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville), who previewed their upcoming agendas. Many of the remarks made by the three leaders featured comments they have made previously.
Business leaders on school boards among ideas Gov. John Kasich plans to put in the state budget The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Gov. John Kasich on Thursday dropped a few more hints about the policy changes tucked into his last two-year state budget. Kasich reiterated his warnings of a tight budget, one with little room for new spending, to economic leaders from across the state. The governor was participating in a 2017 preview with House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger and Senate President Larry Obhof, but the legislative leaders spoke for only a small part of the event.
Kasich not backing off tough graduation standards Columbus Dispatch
Despite a Statehouse protest by Ohio superintendents two months ago, Gov. John Kasich said Thursday that he won’t back down from tough new state high-school graduation requirements. “A diploma has to mean something,” he told Columbus business leaders. “We don’t want to lower our graduation requirements.” At the same time, Kasich said his administration is re-examing whether the proposed new standards correctly measure what Ohio students need to know to go to college or enter the workplace.
Ohio Department of Education/State Board of Education
Elshoff, Hollister Take Helm of School Board among Membership Changes Hannah
The State Board of Education voted unanimously Monday to elevate Tess Elshoff from vice president to president and elect Nancy Hollister as vice president. The change in leadership comes at a time when more than a third of board seats have new members. Elshoff served as vice president for the past two years under outgoing President Tom Gunlock, who presided over Monday's presidential election. She is a former board of education member for her hometown of New Knoxville. She serves on the board by appointment of Gov. John Kasich.
School Board Hears about Graduation Workgroup, Attainment Goal Hannah
The roster for a workgroup formed to study changes to Ohio's graduation requirements is mostly complete, Superintendent Paolo DeMaria said Monday at the State Board of Education's biennial organizing meeting. The workgroup is set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 18 and every other week thereafter to answer the board's request for recommendations on how to respond to concerns that current requirements have left too many students off-track for graduation.
State school board picks VP from northwestern Ohio as president Columbus Dispatch
The State Board of Education elected Tess Elshoff as its president on Monday and Nancy Hollister, a former governor and state representative, as its vice president. Both were unopposed and elected unanimously to two-year terms. The 19-member board is made up of 11 elected members who represent regions of Ohio, plus eight gubernatorial appointees. All serve four-year terms.
Ohio Wins $2M Career Readiness Grant Hannah
Ohio is among 10 states sharing in $20 million from JPMorgan Chase and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) meant to increase the number of students graduating ready for a career. The grant is part of the Chase's $75 million New Skills for Youth Initiative. Ohio will get $2 million over three years to "expand and improve career pathways," as will Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin. An independent advisory panel recommended the 10 states' plans for funding, according to CCSSO and the bank. JPMorgan and CCSSO previously awarded $100,000 planning grants to 24 states for career-readiness education programs aligned to needs of local employers.
Special Education
Bullying and Students With Disabilities: A Resource Guide Education Week
On Dec. 31, an 18-year-old man with a mental disability met up with a former classmate in suburban Chicago, for what his family believed would be a sleepover. Instead, the man was driven around in a stolen van for few days, and then tied up, taunted, and abused for hours, with a portion of the attack streamed on Facebook Live.
U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Level of Benefit Required in Special Education Education Week
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday spent an hour wrestling over a handful of words and phrases that could help set a standard for the level of benefit that school districts nationwide must provide to students in special education. "What is frustrating about this case and about this statute is that we have a blizzard of words," Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said late in the oral arguments in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (Case No 15-827), referring to words such as "significant" and "meaningful."
Northeast Ohio Schools
Cuyahoga County
Voters could decide Intermediate School fate in May with two money issues on the ballot Cleveland.Com
Cleveland school board has new chair, vice chair and member The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Fairview Park Schools introduces student exit interviews as part of strategic plan Cleveland.Com
Lakewood Schools Excel In Cleveland Institute Of Art Scholastic Art Contest Lakewood Patch
North Royalton City Schools receives grant from Ohio EPA to purchase two school buses: Community voices North Royalton Schools
Lorain County
Avon Soaring Little Eagles Preschool Program honored by Ohio Lorain Morning Journal
Lorain students chosen for Oberlin pilot arts program Lorain Morning Journal
Ohio House Bill 70 topic of breakfast talk by Lorain Schools superintendent Lorain Morning Journal
Medina County
Medina City Schools plans reorganization of Department of Educational Services Cleveland.Com
Portage County
Aurora schools head talks about 'outstanding achievement' Aurora Advocate
Summit County
Changes in kindergarten program set for next year Nordonia Hills News Leader
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