Voucher update
The General Assembly passed Senate Bill (SB) 120, which pushes the application window back to April 1 for the Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program. Gov. Mike DeWine is expected to sign the legislation into law tonight.
Senate activity
The Senate amended and passed…
Voucher update
One week remains for lawmakers to implement changes to Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program. Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) this week told reporters he is confident an agreement will be met ahead of the Feb. 1 deadline. He also stated the legislation will include an emergency clause, which would affect the 1,227 buildings on the 2020-21 school year eligibility list.
Legislators are considering a proposal by Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) that would temporarily remove buildings…
Voucher update
Lawmakers have yet to introduce a plan to revise changes to Ohio’s main voucher program, the Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Program. Since September 2018, the number of voucher-eligible buildings has ballooned from 255 buildings to 1,227 buildings — a 381% increase. More than 70% of school districts now have a voucher-eligible building. Also, due to changes in the state budget bill, districts are losing millions of dollars due to voucher eligibility changes for private high school students.
With no immediate resolution in sight and a…
Voucher update
House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) this week told reporters that addressing EdChoice vouchers will be the chamber’s top priority when it returns in January. Any changes made by the legislature to address the exponential growth in eligible buildings must be effective prior to the Feb. 1 voucher application window.
General Assembly activity
The legislature last week sent…
Governor activity
Gov. Mike DeWine this week expressed his intent to continue the state’s $675 million investment in Student Wellness and Success Funds (SWSF). DeWine said his next executive budget proposal would appropriate the same amount of money or more in SWSF. “This will be a high priority when we get into the next budget,” DeWine told reporters. “So I think local schools are in a pretty good position to…
Report Card Study Committee
The committee last week met for the final time ahead of its Dec. 15 deadline to submit recommendations on revising the report card. During the hearing, the committee heard testimony from Ross May, chief information officer, Canton City and Chad Henderly, chief information and process officer, Toledo City. Click here to read their testimony.
House activity
The House passed House Bill (HB) 17 by a vote of 90-0. The bill permits an enhanced homestead exemption of $50,000 for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty.
Meanwhile, the House refused to concur in the Senate’s amendments to HB 2,…
Senate activity
The Senate amended and passed House Bill (HB) 2 by a vote of 31-0. The bill permits a collaboration of school districts, among others, to partner with industry sectors in order to be eligible for state grants to assist with hiring employees, developing curricula and educational resources and marketing workforce partnerships. The amendment does not affect the school-related provisions of the…
New law
Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 26, which permits teachers to deduct from their state income taxes up to $250 for out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies and professional development.
House Finance Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on…
House Finance Committee
The committee held a second hearing on House Bill (HB) 305, sponsored by Reps. Robert R. Cupp (R-Lima) and John Patterson (D-Jefferson), which creates a new school-funding formula. Terry Armstrong, superintendent, Lordstown Local (Trumbull), testified in support of the bill. Click …
