Biennial budget update
Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee made additional changes to Amended Substitute House Bill (HB) 49, the biennial budget. Click here for a listing of the education-related changes.
On June 21, the Senate passed its version of the budget by a vote of 24-8. The House refused to accept those changes by a vote of 93-1. The bill now heads to a conference committee to work out the differences. The members of the conference committee are:
• Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell)
• Rep. Scott Ryan (R-Newark)
• Rep. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire)
• Sen. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton)
• Sen. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville)
• Sen. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood)
The final budget must be completed by June 30.
House activity
The House passed HB 170 by a vote of 78-12. This bill calls for developing optional academic content standards and model curriculum for computer science. HB 170 also addresses educator qualifications for computer science. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Senate activity
The Senate passed HB 124 by a vote of 33-0. This bill would allow a joint vocational school district to submit a renewal tax levy to voters who did not have an opportunity to vote on the levy at the last election because the levy was placed on the ballot in only one of the several counties in which the district has territory. The bill now heads to the governor for his signature.
House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 8. This legislation would require the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) to establish a program to help school districts purchase technology and make alterations to improve technology infrastructure and school safety and security. The committee added one amendment to the bill that would allow districts that received funding from the emergency assistance program to be eligible for the program as long as they have not received funds through OSFC’s Classroom Facilities Assistance Program.
The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 21 regarding the verification of community school enrollments. Click here for the comparative synopsis of the changes made by the substitute bill.
The committee also accepted a substitute version of HB 200. This legislation would eliminate the EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarship programs to create the Opportunity Scholarship Program. Click here for the comparative synopsis of the changes made by the substitute bill.
The committee passed HB 235. This bill outlines procedures for the General Assembly’s approval or disapproval of the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan.
The committee heard sponsor testimony from Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus) on HB 220. This bill deals with the use of funds by community and nonpublic schools.
The committee also heard HB 181. This legislation would make changes to the state academic content standards and state assessments. The committee accepted an amendment to the bill that makes the following changes:
• Prohibits the use of the current American Institute of Research assessments.
• Prohibits the use of the Common Core State Standards.
• Makes 2019-2020 the first school year districts will receive an overall grade on the report card;
• With regard to the third-grade reading guarantee, allows a student’s parent or guardian to request in writing that the student not be retained. In such a case, the student will receive remediation services.
• Restores the language requiring end-of-course examinations in American history and American government.
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee
The committee passed HB 58, which would require instruction in cursive handwriting.
Additionally, the committee heard HB 166 and SB 3. These bills would revise the laws governing the state’s workforce development system and the programs schools may offer. The bill also would designate the first week of May as In-Demand Jobs Week. The bills were amended to allow for-profit teacher training programs to operate in Ohio.
House Finance Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony from Rep. Andrew Brenner (R-Powell) on HB 102. This bill would institute a new school-funding plan that would create a statewide property tax, repeal district property and income taxes, require ESCs to transport students on a countywide basis and allow districts to enter into a memorandum of understanding for one district to manage another.