A Republican state senator wants to roll back nearly 100 hundred requirements for school districts, ranging from mandates on school personnel, to directives for students. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler explains.
The Public School Deregulation Act was put together with input from districts in western Ohio. It would give superintendents flexibility on many things, such as evaluating teachers and assigning them to subjects beyond their licenses, on excusing student absences, and on paper and pencil testing – which Governor John Kasich vetoed in the state budget in July. Senator Matt Huffman says it would mean more local control – and he wants to go further.
“Frankly, if we could eliminate all state requirements and have to do what the federal government is making us to, that’s where I would want to go.”
But the bill would get rid of only one state test, a kindergarten reading exam that’s part of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee that went into effect three years ago.
