Education

There was quite a meeting of the minds in Gov. John Kasich’s office, as the presidents of many of Ohio’s public universities and community colleges gathered to put forward their ideas on improving Ohio’s public education system. Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler reports on their reform plan.

There has long been talk of updating the way Ohio grades its schools. The current report cards rely on a complicated evaluation system that many say is imperfect. But, yesterday the Ohio House approved a bill that would simplify and toughen that report card system.

Sponsors say a bill passed by the Ohio House would give school districts more flexibility in making up snow days and other lost time.

The bill would change state law regarding the time students must spend in school. It would require them to spend a minimum number of hours in school each year instead of a minimum number of days.

House Bill 191 changes the minimum school year from 182 days to 455 hours for half-day kindergarten, 910 hours for grades one through six, and 1001 hours for grades seven through 12.