"It cannot be ignored that reading proficiency is stagnant or declining at a time when exposure to the printed page is also declining... In one of the success stories, the District of Columbia attributed some of its success to the phase-in of universal preschool for 4 year-olds and most 3-year-olds over the last decade. Preschool is proven to have a positive influence on a child’s readiness to learn when the child gets to kindergarten. Ohio should have a task force working on universal preschool."

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.

Along with a new year comes new obligations and requirements that schools must meet with respect to Workers Compensation. One of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date is by attending one of the upcoming SchoolComp workshops to hear the latest on workers compensation, rates, filing deadlines, retrospective and group requirements, unemployment, MCO and BWC updates, and safety training.

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.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Education made two announcements that will affect the legal landscape once implemented.