This week was a busy one for the Ohio General Assembly. Following conference committee reports on House Bills 483 and 487, the Ohio House and Senate moved quickly to pass both items before adjourning for the summer. The nonpublic school community and Agudath Israel were pleased to see that several important issues were positively addressed in these bills.
The EdChoice Scholarship Program was expanded to allow a student who would be assigned to a high school with a low graduation rate to receive a scholarship. This important measure fixes a gap in EdChoice eligibility. Numerous schools in the state were considered performing well enough based on other measures to be ineligible for the EdChoice Program, despite only graduating 75% of their students. This fix allows the robust EdChoice program to continue providing quality options to students that need them most.
The General Assembly also replaced the Ohio Graduation Tests for incoming ninth grade students. HB 487 provides students with three different paths to qualify for graduation, providing much-needed flexibility. Additionally, effective in 2015, nonpublic schools will have the option to opt out of these testing requirements and instead use a college readiness assessment such as the ACT or SAT, provided that the General Assembly does not create a different option prior to that effective date.
The “third grade reading guarantee” was extended to voucher students in non-public schools. However, it was written in a sensible way that provides nonpublic schools flexibility, while at the same time furthering the state’s policy against social promotion.
HB 487 repealed a new law that required private schools to contribute to a state pension fund used for public school employees when using auxiliary services funding for personnel. Essentially, the law drained about 11% of these funds that until now were able to be used to meet the educational needs of students.
HB 483 included a security grant, which is available to nonpublic schools to help pay for entrance security such as doors, video cameras, remote entry, and emergency communications equipment.
There were numerous other issues of import to non-public schools that addressed funding, accountability, and curriculum requirements advocated for by Agudath Israel. We appreciate the Ohio General Assembly’s hard work in addressing these issues in a conscientious manner, if at a frenetic pace. Once again, Ohio has affirmed that ensuring high quality education options and the independence of nonpublic schools are a vital interest and an important part of the education tapestry in Ohio.
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