Senate Education Committee
The committee conducted its fifth hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 82, sponsored by Sens. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) and Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering). The 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. There were no witnesses present to testify on this bill. Lehner stated that the bill would be up for a vote at the next hearing.
The committee continued to hear testimony on SB 216, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima). This bill would enact the Ohio Public School Deregulation Act addressing the administration of preschool, primary and secondary education programs. The committee adopted two amendments, which do the following:
• eliminate the bill’s provisions regarding the kindergarten readiness assessment (KRA) so that no changes are made to the KRA in the bill;
• require that an indicator for gifted students continues to be included in school report cards;
• revise the professional development requirements for gifted education teachers.
The committee conducted its second hearing on House Bill (HB) 98, sponsored by Reps. Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) and Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus). The legislation deals with the presentation of career information to students. The committee also adopted an amendment that adds career-technical education providers to the list of representatives who are permitted to present career information to students.
Finally, the committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 21 from Rep. Stephen D. Hambley (R-Brunswick). The bill addresses the verification of community school enrollment. It passed the House with a vote of 94-0 on Dec. 13.