Report Card Study Committee – One of the provisions of the budget bill (HB166) established a committee to study the state report card and make recommendations for changes. This committee includes Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Sen. Louis Blessing III (R-Cincinnati, Sen. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo), Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport), Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville), and Rep. Lisa Sobecki (D-Toledo). In addition, three superintendents representing rural, suburban, and urban areas and the state superintendent or representative are on the committee. The committee met three times – taking testimony from multiple education groups. OAGC provided testimony on December 4th. To read OAGC’s position on report card changes, please go to http://www.oagc.com/files/OAGC.ReportCardComments.12.4.19.updated.pdf. The committee is charged with putting together recommendations by December 15th. Based on comments from committee members, there appear to be a wide variety of opinions on how and how far the current report card should be modified.
School Funding – The House Finance Committee has not held any hearings on HB305 since November 20th. At the hearing, Ryan Pendleton, the treasurer from Akron City Schools, provided a very broad overview on categorial funding. OAGC will cover the progress of this bill as hearings begin again in the future. Future hearings will focus on other parts of the proposed funding formula. There should be one more hearing in December before the Ohio General Assembly goes on winter break. OAGC has several issues with the gifted funding component of HB305 which are outlined at http://www.oagc.com/files/OAGC%20Amendment%20Requests%20to%20HB305.9.16.19.pdf . To view the documents from the various hearings on HB305, please go to http://www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/finance . To view the hearings, go to http://www.ohiochannel.org and look for the archives of the House Finance committee.