Am. S.B. 6

126th General Assembly

(As Reported by H. Education)

 

Sens.      Padgett, Niehaus, Mumper, Grendell, Schuring, Armbruster, Miller, Cates, Harris, Fedor, Zurz, Wilson, Clancy, Dann, Spada

Rep.       Setzer

BILL SUMMARY

·        Creates the Partnership for Continued Learning to make recommendations for facilitating collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education and for maintaining a high-quality workforce in Ohio.

CONTENT AND OPERATION

Authorization and duties of the Partnership for Continued Learning

(R.C. 3301.42)

The bill establishes the "Partnership for Continued Learning" to promote systemic approaches to education.  Under the bill, the Partnership must (1) support regional efforts to foster collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education, (2) identify the workforce needs of private sector employers in the state, and (3) make recommendations to facilitate collaboration among education providers and to maintain a high-quality workforce.

The recommendations must address at least the following issues:

(1)  Expansion of access to preschool and other education for children under five years of age;

(2)  Increasing opportunities for high school students to earn college credit;

(3)  Expansion of access to workforce development programs administered by school districts, institutions of higher education, and other providers of career-technical education;

(4)  Alignment of statewide academic content standards for grades 9 through 12, the Ohio Graduation Tests, and the curriculum requirements for a high school diploma with the expectations of prospective employers and postsecondary institutions regarding the knowledge and skills high school graduates should attain;[1]

(5)  Improvement of science and mathematics skills among students and employees to meet the needs of a knowledge-intensive economy;

(6)  Reduction of remediation needs for postsecondary students;

(7)  Expansion of access to postsecondary education, including strategies for overcoming financial, cultural, and organizational barriers;

(8)  Alignment of teacher preparation programs approved by the State Board of Education with the instructional needs and expectations of school districts;[2]

(9)  Strategies for the retention of Ohio graduates in the state workforce and for the attraction of talented graduates from outside the state; 

(10)  Strategies for promoting adult continuing education to maintain a strong workforce and economy;

(11)  Appropriate means of measuring the impact of statewide efforts to promote collaboration among education providers and to develop a high-quality workforce and strategies for collecting and sharing data relevant to this evaluation; and

(12)  Strategies for developing and improving opportunities and for removing barriers to achievement for children who are identified as gifted.

Copies of the Partnership's recommendations must be distributed to the Governor, the President and minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives, the chairperson of the Ohio Board of Regents, and the president of the State Board of Education.

Partnership membership

(R.C. 3301.41; Section 2)

The 19 members of the Partnership for Continued Learning are the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Chancellor of the Board of Regents, the Director of Development, the chairpersons and ranking minority members of the education committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and the following nine members appointed by the Governor:

(1)  Three representatives of the private sector;

(2)  Two representatives of organizations that have formed regional partnerships that foster collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education;

(3)  One member of the Student Access and Success Coordinating Council of Ohio;[3]

(4)  Two representatives of elementary and secondary schools, including one member of the State Board of Education and one representative of chartered nonpublic schools;

(5)  Two representatives of institutions of higher education, including one member of the Board of Regents and one representative of private, nonprofit institutions of higher education; and

(6)  One member of the State Workforce Policy Board.[4]

The Governor must make appointments to the Partnership within 30 days after the bill's effective date.  The appointed members serve at the pleasure of the Governor.  The Governor serves as chairperson of the Partnership.  The Partnership must meet at least quarterly and at other times upon the call of the chairperson.

HISTORY

ACTION

DATE

JOURNAL ENTRY

 

 

 

Introduced

01-24-05

p.         60

Reported, S. Education

03-02-05

p.         256

Passed Senate (31-1)

03-08-05

pp.       268-269

Reported, H. Education

04-27-05

p.         718

 


[1] Current law requires the State Board of Education to adopt statewide academic standards in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies for grades K through 12 (R.C. 3301.079(A), not in the bill).  The State Board adopted reading, writing, and math standards on December 11, 2001, and standards for science and social studies on December 10, 2002.  The Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT), passage of which is generally required for a high school diploma, are aligned with these standards (R.C. 3301.0710, not in the bill).  In addition to passing the OGT, students also must successfully complete the high school's curriculum to receive a diploma.  The minimum state high school curriculum includes 20 credits in grades 9 through 12, with a prescribed number of credits in the areas of English language arts, health, math, physical education, science, social studies, and electives (R.C. 3313.603, not in the bill).

[2] The State Board is required to establish standards and courses of study for the preparation of teachers and to approve institutions that maintain satisfactory training procedures (R.C. 3319.23, not in the bill).

[3] The Student Access and Success Coordinating Council of Ohio works to promote collaboration among organizations committed to increasing the number of Ohioans who aspire to postsecondary education and to generate awareness among Ohioans of the need for higher education.  (See www.ohioaccess.org.)

[4] The State Workforce Policy Board is established and appointed by the Governor to assist in performing the state's duties under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-220, 29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) (see R.C. 6301.04, not in the bill).  According to the Board's web site, its mission includes assessing Ohio's employment needs and striving to improve the state's workforce development system, including adult education and vocational training (see http://www.ohioworkforce.org/gwpb/gwpbhome.stm).