COLUMBUS— This week, the Ohio Senate took an extraordinary step to realign the duties of the Ohio Department of Education and the State School Board.
For years, the department and board have operated without direct accountability to a single branch of government. With this vote the ODE and State Superintendent of Public Instruction will report directly to the Governor’s office. The State School Board will focus on teacher licensing and other professional duties.
“This is simply a vote for parents and their children,” said Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima). “Too often large bureaucracies like the Department of Education are only accountable to themselves, and results are buried under layers of paperwork and red tape. That changes today.”
Senate Bill 178 was sponsored by Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) and passed with a large majority vote. Read more about the bill here.
The bill has the support of the Governor’s office and the idea has received bipartisan support from former governors and elected officials.
Senate Bill 178 now moves to the House where it is expected to pass.