Manning, Fedor Announce Bill to Extend Flexibility and Support for Schools in 2020-2021 School Year

COLUMBUS—State Senators Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) and Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) this week announced new legislation that will extend flexibility and support to Ohio's schools through the 2020-2021 school year, by extending provisions made in House Bill 164 and House Bill 197 earlier this General Assembly. Both House Bills 164 and 197 provided several measures of emergency relief for Ohio’s families and schools during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic and Senate Bill 358 simply provides an extension of the enacted education moratoriums. “As schools begin to reopen this fall, districts will need the same flexibility and support from the legislature that they were granted during the 2019-2020 school year,” said Manning. Senate Bill 358 will do several things to support Ohio's schools including:

• Requiring the Ohio Department of Education to request a waiver for federally required state tests so that state tests may be cancelled
• Freezing report cards and related negative sanctions including new state takeovers and EdChoice districts
• Extending teacher and principal evaluations, student promotions and graduation flexibility for the 2020-21 school year

“We need to be proactive as we reopen schools in the Fall. Extending these provisions will allow schools to focus on what is most important, the safety and education of our children,” said Fedor. Senate Bill 358 will now be referred to the Senate Education committee for consideration.