What Parents Need to Know About Ohio’s New School Budget

On June 30, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine, signed HB 110 which outlines the State of Ohio’s Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023. The changes to the budget will have a noticeable effect on Ohio’s K-12 schools. One of these changes is the passage of the Fair School Funding Plan, which creates a more equitable, stable, and predictable revenue stream for Ohio schools. Some of the biggest changes to Ohio’s primary and secondary schools are highlighted below.

Online Learning

With the consent of the State Superintendent, school districts may operate an online learning model school. To do this, districts will be forced to assign all online students to a single school. The bill also requires the State Board of Education to revise operating standards for online learning, with a number of requirements that each online school must meet. One requirement is to determine that each student has a proper device and access to the internet. The online school additionally needs to provide a thorough orientation to online learning policies for both the student and the parent. Lastly, they must enlist the help of a learning management system that tracks time.

College Testing Requirements

Beginning with the class of 2026, parents will have the choice to opt their child out of the requirement that they take a nationally standardized college admission test. Other aspects of the college application will become more significant if a student does not have test scores. These aspects include a high school student’s GPA, college essays, awards and accomplishments, references, and any extracurricular activities they participated in.

Stricter Cheating Regulations

The budget increases the consequences for school staff who assist students in cheating on standardized examinations. Previously, school staff who revealed exam contents faced a one-year suspension. Now, the State Board of Education has the authority to suspend, limit, or revoke their teaching license. The hope is that these consequences will deter teachers from helping students cheat on standardized tests.

Sex Education

If students receive instruction on topics such as venereal disease and sexual education that are not covered by the present law, districts must notify parents and guardians, and obtain their approval. Parents must also be provided with instructional materials upon request. Additionally, the instructor’s name, vendor’s name, and curriculum must all be included in the notification. The Office of the Superintendent of Education (ODE) requires districts to report on advanced standing programs once a year.

Vaping

With a rise in e-cigarette use among young adults, school districts are required to instruct students in health classes about the effects of vaping, including the fact that nicotine is present in the majority of e-cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive and has the potential to damage adolescent brain development, which can last until their early-to-mid-twenties. Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more susceptible to using real cigarettes in the future.

Contact KJK to Learn More About Ohio’s Laws

These new changes to Ohio’s K-12 schools will have a significant impact on your child’s growth and development. If you believe your child’s education is suffering due to schools, faculty, or others violating these laws, contact KJK to schedule a consultation.