Ohio Bill Would Give Local School Districts Control Over Curriculum

A new House of Representatives bill is seeking to change the way education is done in our local schools.

House Bill 212, submitted by State Representative, Andy Thompson, is an attempt to give local school districts control over curriculum, standardized testing and other requirements of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Thompson said it’s an effort to shift the balance of power between the state government and local school districts, so educators and parents are given the opportunity to do what they think is best for education in their local schools.

“Over time local districts have become burdened with a series of things, in terms of evaluations of teachers, principals, some of the licensure for school teachers in the district,” Thompson said. “What this bill seeks to do is alleviate some of those problems by eliminating the teacher evaluation system, the principal evaluation system, the resident educator assessment, and put some more opportunity back in those districts.”

Thompson said the the Common Core Standards have become more of a burden on schools, rather than a benefit. Teachers are given very little time and opportunity in the classroom to work one-on-one with students to help them succeed. Superintendent of Tri-Valley Local Schools, Mark Neal, is one of many Ohio educators hoping for a change.

“There’s a reason for local board members and local control, and that is the school districts across Ohio, the 614 school districts are as different as the communities across Ohio,” Neal said. “What the Department of Education at the federal or state level may think is best for Columbus or Cleveland City Schools, probably isn’t the best for Tri-Valley.”

House Bill 212 would allow districts to opt out of Common Core, but would not eliminate the standards. The bill has yet to see a hearing.