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 from the eligibility list if the building received an overall A, B, C or D grade on the most recent report card, provided (1) the building is not part of an academic distress commission, and (2) the building was not ranked in the lowest 10% of buildings on the performance index for two of three years. This exemption would apply only for the eligibility lists for the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. Of the current 1,227 buildings on the eligibility list, 899 would be removed.

The proposal also would:
• Appropriate $10 million to reimburse districts for deductions occurring in fiscal year 2021 as a result of the costs incurred for paying vouchers for eighth-grade students in private schools or being home-schooled.
• Increase the family income eligibility criteria for income-based vouchers from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Allow an eighth-grade student in a private school or who is home-schooled to receive a voucher for high school without enrolling in a public school, provided that student’s high school is voucher-eligible.

OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) have offered their support for the amendment. While this proposal does not accomplish all our goals, it is a step in the right direction and provides immediate relief to many affected school districts.

House Primary and Secondary Education Committee
The committee held fourth and fifth hearings on House Bill (HB) 310, which revises school discipline, bullying and hazing policies at public schools and colleges. OSBA, BASA, the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators testified as interested parties on the bill, a copy of which can be accessed here. The committee also accepted a substitute version of the bill, the changes of which can be read here.

The committee held second and third hearings on Senate Bill (SB) 89, which revises the law regarding career-technical education and joint vocational school districts. OSBA, BASA and OASBO provided proponent testimony, a copy of which can be viewed here. The following school district representatives testified in support:
• Mary Beth Freeman, superintendent, Delaware Area Career Center;
• Joe Glavan, career-technical education director, Lake Shore Compact;
• Will Vorys, counsel, the Ohio Association for Career Technical Education, Ohio Association of Career-Technical Superintendents and Ohio Association of Comprehensive and Compact CareerTechnical Schools.

The committee held a third hearing on HB 231, which requires the Ohio Department of Education to compile and publicize a list of entities that provide free and reduced-price epinephrine autoinjectors and permits school districts to create training for staff and instruction for students on food allergies and allergic reaction treatment. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill, the changes of which can be read here.

The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 321, sponsored by Reps. P. Scott Lipps (R-Franklin) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati). The bill requires public schools to provide age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and requires in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention.

Finally, the committee held a second hearing on HB 409, sponsored by Rep. J. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), which modifies student attendance requirements at certain e-schools.

Senate Education Committee
The committee accepted substitute bills for the following legislation:
• SB 102, which requires public schools to conduct screenings of specified students and provide intervention services for those displaying risk factors for dyslexia; requires public schools to provide parents of identified children with information about dyslexia, certain treatments and services; and requires public schools to offer services. Click here to read the substitute version.
• SB 200, which requires professional development for screening and intervention for children with dyslexia, requires school districts to establish structured literacy certification procedures and requires districts to employ specified ratios of structured literacy certified teachers. Click here to read the substitute version.
• HB 123, which requires public schools to implement certain programs on and provide instruction in suicide awareness and prevention and violence prevention. Click here to read the substitute version.

Finally, the committee held sponsor testimony on HB 164, sponsored by Rep. Timothy E. Ginter (R-Salem), which deals with student religious expression in public schools.

Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee
The committee passed SB 134, which increases the penalties for the offense of improperly passing a stopped school bus, allows images captured by school bus cameras to be used as corroborating evidence for such an offense and appropriates $500,000 for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for purchasing and installing cameras on school buses.

Senate General Government and Agency Review Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on HB 76, which modifies the form of election notices and ballot language for property tax levies. Eric Gordon, chief executive officer, Cleveland Municipal, testified in opposition. Click here to read his testimony.

The committee also held sponsor testimony on SB 248, sponsored by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster), which extends until Nov. 30, 2022, the moratorium on the requirement for storm shelters to be constructed for new school construction projects.

Finally, the committee held a seventh hearing on HB 46, which creates a state government expenditure database that includes school district employee salary and employment information. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill, and a copy of the changes can be accessed here.

Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 225, sponsored by Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), which requires public schools to post signs that contain a toll-free telephone number that receives reports of child abuse or neglect.

Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee
The committee held a first hearing on HB 210, sponsored by Rep. Sara P. Carruthers (R-Hamilton), which requires Ohio Department of Education-licensed preschool programs and other entities to screen and test prospective employees for tuberculosis and annually test certain employees for a five-year period.

The committee also held a second hearing on SB 126, sponsored by Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), which provides $70,000 every ESC in Ohio to assist with hiring social workers or mental or behavioral health professionals and to authorize a mental health professional to provide a crisis assessment to a suicidal minor without parental consent. The committee adopted a substitute version of the bill, and an analysis of the new version can be accessed here. 

House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 360, sponsored by Reps. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville), which requires the installation of water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains in new school buildings that are constructed with assistance from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.

House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a third hearing on HB 193, which expands the income tax deduction allowed for contributions to Ohio’s 529 education savings plans to include contributions to 529 plans established by other states.

The committee also held a first hearing on HB 439, sponsored by Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), which adjusts for inflation the $25,000 homestead exemption and the enhanced homestead exemption for disabled veterans.

Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee held a second hearing on SB 147, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which creates the Ohio School Marshal Program.

House Criminal Justice Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 169, sponsored by Reps. Candice R. Keller (R-Middletown) and Niraj J. Antani (R-Miamisburg). The bill requires school districts, among others, to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws and to apply sanctions to noncompliant entities.

Posted by Will Schwartz on 1/24/2020