House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee conducted its third hearing on House Concurrent Resolution 11, sponsored by Rep. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green). The resolution expresses support for Ohio’s consolidated state plan that was submitted to the U.S. Department of Education for implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. There were no witnesses present to testify on the resolution.
The committee conducted its second hearing on House Bill (HB) 438, sponsored by Reps. Stephen D. Hambley (R-Brunswick) and Darrell Kick (R-Loudonville). The legislation deals with the composition of educational service centers and local school districts. The following witnesses offered proponent testimony:
• Craig E. Burford, executive director, Ohio Educational Service Center Association
• William J. Koran, superintendent, ESC of Medina County
The committee heard proponent testimony on HB 428, sponsored by Reps. Timothy E. Ginter (R-Salem) and Sarah LaTourette (R-Chesterland). The legislation deals with student religious expression in public schools and titles the bill the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2018.
The committee conducted its third hearing on HB 377, sponsored by Reps. Christina Hagan (R-Marlboro Township) and Daniel Ramos (D-Lorain). This legislation would require age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention. There were no witnesses present to testify on the legislation.
House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee
The committee passed HB 58, sponsored by Reps. Andrew Brenner (R-Powell) and Marilyn Slaby (R-Copley). The legislation requires the State Board of Education to adopt a model curriculum for cursive handwriting instruction for students in grades kindergarten through five.
Senate Education Committee
The committee accepted a substitute version of Senate Bill (SB) 82, sponsored by Sens. Sandra R. Williams (D-Cleveland) and Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering). The revised bill requires public schools, within two hours of the start of a school day, to notify the parent of a student who fails to arrive at school and is not excused from attendance. A synopsis of the changes can be found here.
The committee also accepted a substitute version of SB 216, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima). This bill would enact the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act regarding the administration of preschool and primary and secondary education programs. The substitute version made several changes, including the following:
• reinstates the kindergarten readiness assessment (KRA), and requires the Ohio Department of Education to approve tests that may be used in lieu of the KRA at no cost to schools;
• sets the educator licensure grade bands to grades prekindergarten to six and grades five through twelve;
• requires the Cleveland Municipal School District and its teachers’ union jointly to decide by July 1, 2018, whether to update its teacher evaluation framework to conform with the recommendations of the Educator Standards Board;
• revises the professional career-technical teaching license and the educator license for substitute teaching;
• eliminates the requirement that an indicator for gifted students be included in school report cards;
• states that professional development hours needed for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate can count toward hours for gifted professional development.