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.

Welcome to 2020! As you update your calendars for a new year, please remember that OSBA offers many tools and resources to help you keep track of important legal deadlines, upcoming workshops and seminars, and other important dates. These include:

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.

OSBA hosts workshops for new board members in January and workshops for veteran board members in February.  New board of education members are invited to register for one of our four Board Member 101: Survival Kit for Your First 90 Days in Office.

Governor activity