Education
EdChoice frozen in Ohio omnibus coronavirus bill
The fight over private school vouchers is yet again on hold, this time to clear the way for the state’s coronavirus response. As part of the omnibus bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday morning and the House that afternoon, the expansion of the EdChoice scholarship program will be frozen while the coronavirus causes the […]
Internet providers commit to keep Ohioans connected during self-isolation, school closures
The closure of schools has caused disruption to students’ schooling and every day routine, so some internet providers are committing to help. Several high-speed internet providers in the start have joined with the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” Pledge. With the commitment, internet service providers say they “will not terminate service to any residential […]
EdChoice among legislation up in the air as Statehouse work paused
The April 1 deadline looms for the Ohio legislature to decide on a plan for the state’s private school voucher program. The telework policies and lack of personnel in the Statehouse may throw a wrench in that timeline. The EdChoice deadline was moved back once before so that lawmakers could debate the best plan of […]
Ballot issues on hold amid election day confusion
As the pause in the election continues, cities and school districts are left hanging on whether the funding they have asked for from voters will be coming. More than half of the Ohio counties have municipal or school issues on the ballot. In Franklin County, that includes a renovation and improvement bond issue from Columbus […]
Census vital to rural infrastructure, services, mayors say
From a McDonald’s parking lot to a Ferris Wheel on West Union Street in Athens, mayors across the state are pushing every method of getting a full count in the 2020 Census. Southeast Ohio was particularly represented as the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress came together at the Statehouse with Ohio Development Services Agency Director Lydia […]
U.S. Senate votes to ax DeVos student loan policy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday to overturn a controversial regulation from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that her critics say hurts defrauded student loan borrowers. Senate Democrats forced the vote under the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows Congress to overturn federal rules within 60 days after they’re finalized. The U.S. House […]
With Ohio schools closing, foodbanks association calls for help to address hunger
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, he has ordered that all kindergarten through 12th grade schools close for several weeks. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is calling for federal, state, and public help for low-income families with children who will miss school lunches and parents who will lose […]
Bipartisan bill coming to make charter schools nonprofit, public
Two House members have come together with a bill looking to make charter schools more accountable to taxpayers. The “Community (Charter) School Operator Accountability Act” aims to take for-profit charter schools and require them to become nonprofits, and make records of their spending subject to public scrutiny and audit. “By removing that profit incentive, it’s […]
Bill prohibiting mandatory nurse overtime moves on to Senate
A bill prohibiting overtime as a condition of employment for nurses is headed to its second hurdle to passage. A Senate committee will now consider the bill that has the support of nurses groups and individual medical professionals, along with a House vote approving the bill on an 80-13 vote. Speaker Larry Householder voted in […]
State asks for Ohio Supreme Court dismissal in EdChoice lawsuit
The state of Ohio is asking the state Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit demanding EdChoice vouchers be distributed as planned before the Ohio legislature moved the deadline. The Ohio Attorney General’s office filed the motion last week saying the school groups and individuals lack standing in their lawsuit. The attorneys for the state said […]
EdChoice stalls, decision due in less than a month
The EdChoice decision needed in less than a month seems to have stalled, and legislators are still not in agreement as to what the solution is. About a week ago, the conference committee deliberating on House Bill 9 adjourned to take time to “get their minds unwarped,” as committee chair state Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, […]
Dems berate Betsy DeVos at heated Capitol Hill hearing
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats tore into the Trump administration’s annual budget request for the Department of Education at a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday. The administration’s proposal to slash the department’s budget in the next fiscal year is dead on arrival and amounts to an effort to privatize public education, they said. The target of […]