The Ohio Department of Education wants to change the requirement that elementary schools have at least five of the eight specialty teachers in subjects such as art, music and physical education. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow explains a panel has approved the plan.]
The panel in charge of making sure rule changes by state departments follow the law found no violations with the so-called “5 of 8 rule”.
Supporters say the rule would give districts more flexibility, but lawmakers on the panel from both parties voiced concerns. Republican Senator Frank LaRose of the Akron area says he’d like to see the Legislature create a bill that still incentivizes such positions.
“There could be something that involves more carrots than stick but there are other things that are left out of the 5 of 8 rule for example technology professionals, ESL teachers and that kind of thing that maybe we need to take a fresh look at,” said LaRose.
The state board of education will get final approval over the rule.
