Week in Review 10-22-2021

EDUCATION

While Ohio’s state report cards lacked A-F school ratings because of legislation passed in light of pandemic disruptions to education, the underlying data reveal important trends, according to advocacy groups on education and child welfare. The Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio) said the data highlight the need to focus on equity in education, but contrasted that message to the State Board of Education’s vote the day before the report card release to repeal a resolution supporting equity and condemning racism in education. Groundwork Ohio said dropping enrollment, attendance and performance data raise concerns about long-term student attainment and Ohio’s workforce and economy. The Fordham Institute noted that while low-income and minority students lost more ground academically amid the pandemic, performance data from the Big Eight districts show the drop in the Performance Index was slightly smaller among charter schools in those districts, with a 28.6 percent decrease from the charters versus 32.2 percent for the districts.

Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) troopers were “highly visible” along bus routes and in school zones this week for the observance of National School Bus Safety Week. The patrol noted the requirements for drivers near a stopped school bus: Motorists approaching a stopped school bus from either direction are required to stop at least 10 feet from the bus while the bus is receiving or discharging students. When a road is divided into four or more lanes, only traffic driving in the same direction as the bus must stop. Drivers may not resume their travels until the bus resumes traveling.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

For the first time in more than two decades, both chambers of the Legislature adopted a concurrent resolution invalidating a rule from the executive branch. The Senate voted 30-0 to adopt HCR35 (Callender), which nullifies the Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) rule that would have removed requirements for all schools to provide courses in personal safety and assault prevention, foreign language, technology, family/consumer science and business education. The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) had recommended the General Assembly invalidate the rule following opponent testimony from educators and business groups. That recommendation was introduced by JCARR Chair Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) as HCR35, which was then adopted unanimously by the House. Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green), vice chair of JCARR, said state agencies normally work with lawmakers on the oversight panel when there is an issue with a rule. That didn’t occur in this case, she said, noting nobody from ODE testified in support of the rule at the JCARR hearing.