An Ohio K-12 education bill went into effect Oct. 24, reducing educator licensing requirements and repealing certain education regulations from the Ohio Revised Code.
Senate Bill 168 included provisions:
- authorizing local school boards to approve the employment of unlicensed teachers in their district.
- creating teacher evaluation frameworks at the local level.
- repealing certain provisions related to the powers and duties of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which includes duties to establish goals for public schools, such as reducing student dropout rates.
State Sen. Michele Reynolds (R), who sponsored the bill, said it would “eliminat[e] excess and burdensome regulations and [address] teacher shortages.” Matt Dotson, a lobbyist with the Ohio Education Association, argued the bill hurt teacher licensing requirements meant to ensure educators were qualified.
The background
Senate Bill 168 passed both chambers of the Ohio Legislature on June 26.
The bill’s introduction came after the Ohio State Board of Education filed a lawsuit against 2023 legislation that transferred its rulemaking and curriculum evaluation powers to the governor-appointed director of the Department of Education and Workforce. The Ohio State Board of Education has 19 members, including 11 elected and eight governor-appointed officials.
The Ohio State Board of Education used to govern the Department of Education, which was renamed the Department of Education and Workforce as part of a 2023 budget bill. The bill shifted duties from the state board to the director of the Department of Education and Workforce.
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