Cutrona Bill Seeks to Dissolve State Control of Youngstown City Schools

State Senator Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) introduced Senate Bill 322, which dissolves academic distress commissions and instead creates student support teams for certain low-performing schools.

“Handicapping under-performing schools from being able to overcome their difficulties is not in the best interest of Ohio students," said Senator Cutrona. “Dissolving academic distress commissions allows Youngstown City Schools and others like them the freedom to make their own decisions to improve their schools. I know that this bill will alleviate the threat of takeover by the commission for schools and return local control.”

Academic distress commission's were created in 2007 to allow the state to intervene in school districts that demonstrate consistently low academic performance. An academic distress commission has been overseeing Youngstown City Schools since 2010. Senate Bill 322 dissolves academic distress commissions and instead requires student support teams for certain low-performing school buildings.

The bill has yet to be assigned to a committee for further hearings.

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