Welcome to Lame Duck!  

Now that the November Election is over, the General Assembly will return to the Statehouse for a handful of lame-duck sessions before the end of the year. The Senate will return next week with both committee hearings and a session scheduled for Wednesday, 11/13. The House has does not have a session scheduled until December but will be holding various committee hearings on Tuesday, 11/12. Facts in a Flash will keep you up to date on legislative activity during these session dates.  

Next week, OSBA’s Division of Legislative Services will be hosting a Spotlight Session at Capital Conference, during which we will give an update on the results of the November election and an overview of legislation to keep an eye on during lame duck. We will also host a legislator panel discussion on education policy.  Panelists will include Representative Bride Rose Sweeney (D – Westlake, HD16), Rep. Don Jones (R – Freeport, HD95), Senator Louis Blessing (R – Colerain Twp., SD8) and Sen. Catherine Ingram (D – Cincinnati, SD9). Be sure to attend on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 8:30 – 10:30 am in Concourse B, Rooms 230-232. We hope to see you there! 

New Bills Introduced (Since July 1, 2024) 

  • HB645 – Sponsored by Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinatti) and Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township). Would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceed five per cent of their income. 
  • HB655 – Sponsored by Rep. Thomas F. Patton (R-Strongsville). Would authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes, pending application approval from the county auditor showcasing the individual’s total annual income is less than $75,000 and enrolled in either the Medicaid or Medicare Program.  
  • HB657 – Sponsored by Rep. Gail K. Pavliga (R-Atwater) and Rep. Tracy M. Richardson (R-Marysville). Would enact the Transparency in Pledge of Allegiance "T.I.P.A." Act to require each school district to post its Pledge of Allegiance policy. 
  • HB659 – Sponsored by Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell). Would require certain public and chartered nonpublic schools to provide information upon enrollment about water safety education. 
  • HB661 - Sponsored by Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Rep. Jack K. Daniels (R-New Franklin). Would allow boards of education, among other public entities in Ohio, to adopt a policy preventing the district from purchasing lab grown meat and egg products.  
  • SB304 – Sponsored by Sen. Mark Romanchuck (R-Ontario). Would establish the Nonchartered Educational Savings Account (ESA) Program. 
  • SB308 – Sponsored by Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Ashtabula). Would limit the ability of school districts to reallocate unvoted property tax millage and to include emergency levies and substitute levies in the calculation of a school district's effective millage floor. 
  • SB309 – Sponsored by Sen. Steve Wilson (R-Maineville). Would permit community foundations to be trustees of endowments and other charitable funds received by public schools and to classify some funds held by community foundation trustees as institutional funds. 
  • SB311 – Sponsored by Sen. Sandra O’Brien (R-Ashtabula). Would permit students to concurrently receive an Educational Choice scholarship or Pilot Project scholarship and either an Autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarship. 
  • SB313 – Sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). Would enact Alyssa's Law requiring public and chartered nonpublic schools to implement a wearable panic alert system and to make an appropriation of $25 million to reimburse districts for such systems. 

Rules Activity 

The Department of Education and Workforce has the following proposed rules open for public comment at this time:  

  • OAC 3301-14-01: Operation of the education management information system.  
  • OAC 3301-18-01: Calculating student attendance rate to meet minimum performance standards.   
  • OAC Chapter 28: Local Report Card
    • OAC 3301-18-01: Calculating student attendance rate to meet minimum performance standards. 
    • OAC 3301-28-10 Ratings for schools and districts.  
  • OAC Chapter 43: High School Continuation Programs  
    • OAC 3301-43-01 Definitions. 
    • OAC 3301-43-02 Establishment of adult high school diploma programs.  
    • OAC 3301-43-03 Eligibility criteria for adult high school continuation and earning equivalent adult high school credit.  
    • OAC 3301-43-04 Program elements, basis for awarding adult high school credits.  
    • OAC 3301-43-05 Criteria for issuing diplomas.  
    • OAC 3301-43-06 Administering ninth-grade proficiency and Ohio graduation tests to eligible adults.  
    • OAC 3301-43-07 Program reimbursement, adult high school continuation.  
  • OAC Chapter 45: Adult High School Diplomas 
    • OAC 3301-45-01 Purpose.  
    • OAC 3301-45-02 Definitions.  
    • OAC 3301-45-03 Provider Application.  
    • OAC 3301-45-04 Provider requirements.  
    • OAC 3301-45-05 Enrollment.  
    • OAC 3301-45-06 Measurement of provider performance.  
    • OAC 3301-45-07 Process to earn a high school diploma.  
    • OAC 3301-45-08 Contracting educational services.  
    • OAC 3301-45-09 District of residence.  
    • OAC 3301-45-10 Standards for competency-based education.  
  • OAC 3301-46-01: Innovative education pilot programs.  
  • OAC Chapter 56: Intervention standards for districts declared to be under academic watch or in academic emergency status  
    • OAC 3301-56-01 School district and building improvement, supports, and interventions.  
    • OAC 3301-56-02 Reading achievement improvement plans.   
  • OAC Chapter 69: Miscellaneous Programs   
    • OAC 3301-69-01 Stipends for national board-certified teachers.  
    • OAC 3301-69-02 Excuses from school attendance.   
  • OAC Chapter 91: Standards for School Lunch and Breakfast Programs 
    • OAC 3301-91-01 Eligibility for receiving state matching funds.  
    • OAC 3301-91-02 Schedule of payments.  
    • OAC 3301-91-03 Report required. 
    • OAC 3301-91-04 Calculation of payment.  
    • OAC 3301-91-07 Appeal for extension of time for compliance. 
    • OAC 3301-91-09 Guidance for approving food to be sold in schools. 
    • OAC 3301-91-10 Establishing summer food service programs at school sites and associated cost. 

Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment. 

The State Board of Education has the following proposed rules open for public comment at this time: 

  • OAC Chapter 3302-73-26: Action after appeal of conviction. 
  • OAC Chapter 3302-24-27: Early college high school educator license. 
  • OAC Chapter 89: Transfer of Territory 
    • OAC 3302-89-01 General policies of the state board of education in a request for transfer of territory. 
    • OAC 3302-89-02 Procedures of the state board of education in a request for transfer of territory. 
    • OAC 3302-89-03 Factors to be considered by a hearing officer appointed to hear a request for transfer of territory.  
    • OAC 3302-89-04 Procedures governing negotiations of school districts, other than urban school districts as defined in division (A)(3) of section 3311.06 of the Revised Code. 

Click here to view the SBOE rules open for public comment.  

Federal Update 

Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report, which provides an overview of federal education policies on the horizon. 

 

Posted by Malania Birney on 11/8/2024. 

Posted by Malania Birney on 11/8/2024