K-12
COVID-19 in schools: details on the ODH prevention guide
Coming alongside renewed calls from the CDC for mask wearing, even by the vaccinated, the Ohio Department of Health laid out ways in which K-12 schools should be preventing COVID-19 in the upcoming school year. With no requirement for masks included in the recommendations, announced on Monday, the Ohio Department of Health is counting on […]
Education reforms in state budget could narrow achievement gap
Last Monday, members of the Ohio House and Senate finally reconciled their respective versions of the state budget, passing it with bipartisan support in both chambers. While a $1.6 billion tax cut and funding for broadband and brownfield development will make headlines, the most historic provision of this budget is likely its change to the […]
State report cards to see major changes under new legislation
A bipartisan group of Ohio legislators have set their sights on the state’s school report card system, aiming to eliminate the letter grades they say are misleading and unfair. State Rep. Don Jones, R-Freeport, and Rep. Phil Robinson, D-Solon, introduced a bill to get rid of elements of the state report card including the letter […]
With no waiver of federal testing, legislators still weigh state testing
A bill to pause state testing for another year due to the impact of COVID-19 has been made more complicated by a Biden administration decision made this week. The part of the bill that would request a waiver of federal testing was rendered moot after an announcement by the U.S. Department of Education that they […]
Education budget debate begins as Jan. budget shows declines in higher ed, K-12
Subcommittees on K-12 and higher education are beginning their discussions on the new operating budget this week, and they have plenty of budgetary information to look at, including declines shown in the January budget report. The Ohio House Finance subcommittee on higher education will take their first look at the pieces of the state operating […]
School safety center pushed as part of DeWine’s criminal justice budget
As part of his criminal justice budget proposal, Gov. Mike DeWine wants to spend millions to fund a center monitoring threats to school safety. On Wednesday, DeWine elaborated on budget recommendations specifically in the area of public safety. This includes $5 million going toward the Ohio School Safety Center, “which assists local schools with improving […]
Education budget returns to pre-pandemic levels in DeWine’s proposal
The newly released budget proposal from Gov. Mike DeWine doesn’t change the K-12 funding formula, but it does return the education budget to pre-pandemic levels. DeWine introduced his full budget proposal on Monday, and said the funding formula for schools didn’t change in his version of the budget because of the potential changes to be […]
Dems reintroduce bill to cancel state testing
Two House Democrats are bringing back a measure to eliminate state testing for the 2020-2021 school year. Known as House Bill 686, state Rep. Lisa Sobecki, D-Toledo, and Rep. Jeff Crossman, D-Parma, said they have “broad and bipartisan support” for the legislation, and continue to hear from teachers and parents “about the importance of cancelling […]
Ohio coalition wants state budget to focus on education, stability of children
A coalition of groups from the children services, economic stability and education equity fields have come together to push budget priorities that focus on the youngest Ohioans. The Ohio Children’s Budget Coalition released multiple policy briefs outlining the major needs they see within the state to support children, and sent a letter to the governor […]
Teachers unions push DeWine to support schools without ‘coerced preconditions’
Eight teachers’ unions throughout the state are pushing Gov. Mike DeWine to rethink his timeline for school reopening and vaccine distribution. In a joint statement distributed by the Ohio Federation of Teachers and signed by the presidents of the unions in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown, the leaders expressed disappointment with […]
Majority of K-12 schools agree to in-person schooling by March, per state vaccination condition
As plans form for the vaccination of school personnel, Gov. Mike DeWine said an overwhelming majority of districts have agreed to have at least partial in-person instruction in place by March 1. Public school districts were surveyed by the state asking whether they would be willing and able to conduct in-person classes by March 1 […]
Ohio Education Association urges statewide suspension of in-person classes
The state’s largest public schools union is asking that all public schools suspend in-person instruction until mid-January “in light of the alarming explosion in community spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks.” The Ohio Education Association said in a statement that they plan on calling “state leaders and school districts” to discuss a new plan […]