Ohio Senate Passes Historic Education Oversight Bill

COLUMBUS— Today the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 1, a historic overhaul and realignment of the responsibilities and duties of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the State School Board.

"Our education system is in drastic need of an overhaul to end the unaccountable bureaucracy that is stifling our children's education," said State Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin), the bill's primary sponsor. "Senate Bill 1 will ensure that the Department and the State School Board are accountable to the people of Ohio."

Among the changes, the bill would create a cabinet-level agency named the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). The bill also creates the Division of Primary and Secondary Education and the Division of Career Technical Education within the Department, which will focus on career education and preparing students for the workforce.

"Senate Bill 1 is driven by the needs of our workforce and our local communities while helping students find their purpose. We need to be educating our students for the needs of the workforce."

The effort to realign the duties of the Department of Education has been discussed and supported by both Republican and Democrat governors over the last 30 years.

Senate Bill 1 will now be considered by the Ohio House.