Sponsor Testimony — Senate Bill 1, Senator Bill Reineke (March 21, 2023)

Summary

Sponsor testimony from Senator Bill Reineke dated March 21, 2023 on Senate Bill 1, addressed to Chairman Swearingen, Vice Chair Santucci, Ranking Member Upchurch and members of the House Economic Development and Workforce Committee. The testimony states that the bill's focus is to improve academic and workforce skills to drive better accountability and outcomes for education and career readiness. It cites the remediation rate for students enrolling in college and describes a requirement for public discussion and access to audio recordings of meetings within five days of their conclusion.

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                                Ohio Senate               Committees:
                                Senate Building           Energy & Public Utilities – Chair
                                1 Capitol Square          Select Committee on Rail Safety -Chair
                                Columbus, Ohio 43215      Transportation – Vice Chair
                                Reineke@ohiosenate.gov    Finance Committee
                                                          Workforce and Higher Education
                                                          Governor’s Executive Workforce Board


        Bill Reineke
         State Senator
      26th Senate District

From: Senator Bill Reineke
Date: March 21, 2023
RE: Sponsor Testimony: SB 1


Chairman Swearingen, Vice Chair Santucci, Ranking Member Upchurch, and Members of the
House Economic Development and Workforce Committee, thank you for allowing me to provide
sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 1.

Approximately 7 years ago, I met with my local school officials to discuss educational issues.
Consequently, I became involved in education, never thinking or knowing that severe issues
existed within the ODE educational system. I am from the business world, so I just assumed all
was good with the education world. I have since learned that there is an awkward relationship
between education and the business world.

The bill’s focus is to improve academic and workforce skills to drive better accountability and
outcomes for our kids’ education and career readiness. Our children deserve strong educations
that prepare them for their futures, and we must hold government accountable. Our citizens, our
taxpayers, deserve a return on their investment.

It is the remediation rate that jumped out at me. Ohio’s Remediation Report stated that the
remediation rate for students enrolling in a math or English remediation class sits at 19.3%,
Roughly 1 out of 5, pre-COVID, are not prepared for post-secondary instruction or life outside
the classroom.1 Meanwhile, far too many K-12 students in Ohio are falling behind in their
learning. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report shows
that Ohio fourth graders and eighth graders have fallen drastically behind in both reading and
math.2 This data demonstrates significant problems within our education system that are failing
our children.

When I visited with ODE in November of 2016, I was surprised to learn that there are 4
pathways to a high school graduation. In addition to academic struggles, we are not effectively
connecting our students to their purpose. The traditional path, involving students taking the ACT
or SAT and going to college is the most common pathway that our schools direct our students
through. And appropriate for many students who plan to earn a degree at a higher education

1
    2021 Ohio Remediation Report
2
    National Assessment of Educational Progress in Ohio
institution after graduating high school. But many young people simply are not aware of the
options available to them should they choose another path in career-oriented education. In 2016,
we had three employees at ODE dealing with career tech; today we have 37. I would argue that
we stigmatize these programs by not accommodating “a student’s purpose” through our schools
as a viable choice. These programs all too frequently are not considered equals to more
traditional college-focused pathways, but they deserve elevation and promotion for what they
teach students about their futures and themselves.

Furthermore, this current system fails our students’ abilities to attain success in the workforce.
According to the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio’s postsecondary attainment is not
keeping up with the needs of business, which has led us to a massive talent gap. Between 2018
and 2028, 75% of Ohio’s job growth will be in occupations requiring at least a postsecondary
non-degree credential, and over 50% will require a bachelor’s degree or higher.3 Despite this
growing need, our students are not receiving the education they need for the jobs of today or
tomorrow.

The evidence shows there is a need for systemic change in our education system to ensure our
kids become well-educated and career-ready adults after graduation. SB 1 addresses this need by
refocusing our system on what matters most: Ohio’s students.

Under SB 1, the Department of Education will become a state-level agency called the
Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) with a dual focus on primary and secondary
education and preparing students for the workforce. The department will be led by a Director
who is appointed by the Governor and subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. The
Department will consist of two divisions: the Division of Primary and Secondary Education, and
the Division of Career Technical Education. Both divisions will be headed by deputy directors.
The Department will be generally responsible for enforcing rules under the Ohio Administrative
Code and adopting new rules as required by law. This design promotes communication and
collaboration between schools and education leaders to ensure accountability and transparency.

The bill also makes changes to the State Board of Education (SBOE). The Ohio
Constitution establishes the SBOE and specifies that the board selects the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. Ohio’s constitution states that the specific roles and duties of the board are
left to the General Assembly to establish through law. It is important to note that this bill does
not change the structure or composition of the State Board. Instead, it establishes the duties of
the SBOE to include the implementation and enforcement of rules on teacher licensure and
professional conduct of educators, and determinations regarding school district territory
transfers. The Board can also make recommendations to the Director of the DEW regarding
priorities, and will continue to appoint the Superintendent of Public Instruction, who will serve
as both the Board’s secretary and an advisor to the Director. All other duties currently under the
purview of the SBOE will be assigned to the appropriate new divisions at the Department.

SB 1 also includes protections for homeschooling families. The bill aims to guarantee
homeschooling families the ability to home educate their child by exempting a child from
compulsory school attendance when that child is receiving instruction in core subject areas from
3
    Ohio Department of Higher Education: Attainment
their parents. It also codifies current rules regarding non-chartered nonpublic schools into Ohio
Revised Code.

The bill also ensures necessary legislative checks over the Department of Education and
Workforce. For example, the Director of DEW, and the deputy directors of the two divisions,
must receive the advice and consent of the Senate, and cannot hold these offices, on a permanent
or an interim basis, for more than 45 days without the Senate’s advice and consent. In addition,
SB 1 permits the General Assembly to invalidate or rescind any rules adopted by the
Department.

Following hours of intensive discussions with education stakeholders, we made changes to the
bill in the Senate Education Committee that incorporate public and expert input at the
Department. A crucial addition is the inclusion of required stakeholder outreach and engagement
in the rule-making process. This process must include the opportunity for stakeholder feedback
prior to the Department initiating rulemaking and submitting a proposed rule to the Joint
Committee on Agency Rule Review. The process mirrors the Ohio EPA’s stakeholder process,
which I have seen work well in my own district. SB 1 also includes a public presentation
requirement that requires the Director or his or her designee to convene a public meeting at least
every other month. These meetings must include updates on any new or existing policies;
changes to law that affect the Department; and rule updates. There must be opportunity for
public discussion and access to audio recording of the meetings within five days of their
conclusion.

Overall, Senate Bill 1 forces our state education system to be more accountable in how it
oversees the education of our kids. It is glaringly obvious that the current structure is not
adequately preparing the next generation of Ohioans for life-long success. It is time for us to
refocus and reenergize education by creating a system that works for our children, who deserve
our best efforts toward their ultimate success. Senate Bill 1 achieves this goal.

Chairman, thank you for your time. I welcome any questions from the committee.


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