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Survey: Ohio middle-of-the-road on education, child health and economic well-being
In a national survey on child well-being, Ohio was middle of the pack when it came to growth indicators. The data, collected through the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Ohio 31st nationally in overall child well-being, calculated using indicators of economic well-being, education, health, and family and community context. Compared to 2019 numbers, Ohio was […]
Law, religion come together in support of death penalty ban
Supporters of a measure to eliminate the death penalty in Ohio include religious and legal leaders, who say the concept is both a waste of the state’s money and time, and unethical. “The death penalty is the most inefficient government program in existence in Ohio today,” said Timothy Young, Ohio’s state public defender. “I don’t […]
Higher ed access, speech on campus bill moves on for House review
A bill seeking to address financial barriers and access to higher education, along with speech on campuses, is now headed for House review after the Ohio Senate passed it nearly unanimously. In a 31-2 vote, Senate Bill 135 cleared one chamber of the Ohio legislature, pressing forward new rules for student debt transparency and a […]
College hazing legislation passes Senate
A bill to expand criminal penalties for hazing and create prevention methods for colleges and universities has passed the Ohio Senate. The bill was a reintroduction of Collin’s Law, named after Ohio University student Collin Wiant, who died of asphyxiation due to nitrous oxide ingestion after attending a fraternity related party in 2018. Members of […]
Controversial race education bills enter Ohio House committee
Two bills seeking to ban “divisive” language about the role of racism in American history entered a House committee on Tuesday, along with plenty of debate over the measures. House Bill 322 and House Bill 327 were both presented by sponsors in the Ohio House’s State and Local Government Committee, despite Democrats’ efforts to have […]
Ohio to use Rescue Plan education dollars for crisis preparation, combatting student drop-off
The Ohio Department of Education has submitted their plans for federal education funding, which shows a drop in enrollment throughout the state and stakeholder demands for better preparations for “future learning disruptions.” The U.S. Office of Elementary & Secondary Education awarded states funding as part of the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency […]
Child care leaders ‘outraged’ at state Senate’s removal of quality system in budget proposal
The removal of the Step Up to Quality child care standards system as proposed in the Ohio Senate’s version of the budget was not only against the wishes of some child care leaders, but also came without any warning. “It was calculated,” said Dawn Blalock, co-owner of the Little Miracles Early Development Center. “It was […]
State receives very few complaints on ‘divisive’ racial education concepts
Despite two different pieces of legislation seeking to ban the practice and a nationwide movement against teaching race’s impact on history and society, the state says they haven’t heard a public outcry. A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Education said it has received “only a small handful” of concerns about an academic study called […]
Educators favor House school funding overhaul over Senate rewrite
Officials representing Ohio’s teachers say the Senate’s new version of the public school funding overhaul leaves much to be desired, unlike the House version it would replace. “It is a matter of political will and it’s a matter of priorities, and prioritizing public education just doesn’t seem to be where the Senate is when you […]
“Born alive” abortion bill introduced again, despite current law, low statistics
Two medical professionals in the Ohio Senate reintroduced a bill that would criminalize physician inaction in “botched abortions,” but say the bill is more about having a reporting system, something that already exists in state law. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, who currently works as a drug addiction treatment physician, […]
School takeovers on their way out under Ohio Senate measure
Three Ohio school districts currently under state academic control might have a way out under a newly amended bill. A senate bill that sought to pave a way forward for the Lorain City Schools to rise from its academic distress commission will now create a pathway for all three city school districts currently under ADC […]
Marriage shouldn’t negate rape, bill supporters say
Supporters of a bill removing a loophole for spousal rape and sexual assault say the state needs to stop the double-standard that exists when it comes to sex crimes. Heather McComas-Harrison said she spoke from experience when imploring a House committee on Thursday to pass House Bill 121, to remove language in Ohio law that […]