Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Ohio public schools face a bus driver shortage while debating transportation system changes. A state workgroup recommended a 'comprehensive system change' but highlighted disagreements on implementation. Private and religious schools advocate for expanded transportation access, though some workgroup members opposed the proposed recommendations.

Ohio lawmakers passed Senate Bill 276, requiring schools to teach the 'success sequence' of graduating high school, working, marrying, and having children in that order. The bill, supported by Republicans and some Democrats, faces criticism for oversimplifying poverty factors and ignoring diverse life experiences. The Heritage Foundation's model legislation influenced the requirement.

Ohio lawmakers passed a bill requiring schools to teach the 'success sequence'—graduating high school, working full-time, and marrying before having children. The bill, based on model legislation from The Heritage Foundation, faces criticism for oversimplifying poverty factors and ignoring diverse life paths.

Foster care families and advocates in Ohio are pushing for a bill to create a foster-to-college pipeline, aiming to improve educational resources for foster children from K-12 to higher education. The bipartisan Ohio House Bill 25 requires schools to designate foster family navigators and mandates collaboration between state agencies to support foster youth.

An Ohio bipartisan bill, Senate Bill 443, would require private schools using Education Choice and Education Choice Expansion vouchers to undergo annual audits, submit weekly attendance records, conduct employee background checks, and publish graduation and dropout rates. The bill aims to increase transparency as Ohio spends over $1 billion annually on vouchers, with nearly half from the expansion program allowing eligibility up to 450% of the poverty line. Lawmakers argue the current system underfunds public schools and lacks accountability.