Latest news with #DepartmentofEducationandWorkforce
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Senate passes Johnson drug abuse education bill
Apr. 17—COLUMBUS — The Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Senator Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, which introduces changes to student instruction on harmful effects of substance use. "In order to effectively fight the war on drugs, we need to take an approach that acknowledges our children are the most impressionable people in our society," Johnson said. "As a first step in curbing the upward path of death and destruction, this bill requires proper and appropriate instruction in the harms of, and restrictions against, drugs of abuse. While simple, I believe this policy change begins a much-needed process of targeting drug prevention in a meaningful way—one that can save lives and prevent Ohio's children from a lifetime of drug abuse and suffering. "We will never win the war on drugs with a sole focus on the suppliers—we must do more to decrease demand," he added. "I want to do everything I can to keep the precious little souls of our children from entering the terrible vortex of drug abuse and addiction." Senate Bill 7 requires each public school, and permits each chartered nonpublic school, to annually provide instruction to students in grades K-12 on the harmful effects of short-term or chronic substance use as well as bullying and hazing in its health curriculum. Additionally, the Department of Education and Workforce is instructed to develop a list of evidence-based curricula, materials, programs, and instructional strategies related to the required health curriculum and substance use instruction. An annual survey by the department is also to be conducted on public school compliance with the required health curriculum and substance use instruction. Senate Bill 7 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio legislators want to increase penalties for passing stopped school buses
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio legislators are trying to increase penalties and awareness when it comes to school bus safety. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) introduced Senate Bill 62, the School Bus Safety Act. State Reps. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) introduced House Bill 3 under the same title. Both bills would increase penalties for passing school buses illegally. See previous coverage of lawmakers hoping to increase school bus safety in the video player above. Under the S.B. 62, illegally passing a stopped school bus would spur a civil penalty of $300, $50 of which would go to a newly created school bus safety fund. The remaining $250 would be paid to the organization in charge of the bus, such as a local school district, which would have to use the funds for bus safety initiatives. Ohio lawmakers want to allow parents to claim conceived children on income taxes H.B. 3 goes even further, designating passing a stopped school bus as an unclassified misdemeanor. This would raise fines for violations to a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $1,000. Repeat offenders could be eligible for fines between $350 and $2,000. Currently, state law permits fines up to $500. All fines collected would go to the school bus safety fund. Both bills would establish the school bus safety fund within the state treasury, which would award grants to school districts to improve bus safety further. The fund would also be used by the Department of Education and Workforce to promote school bus safety awareness. Both S.B. 62 and H.B. 3 would also designate August as 'School Bus Safety Awareness Month.' The bills state funds generated by this legislation could go to eligible school bus safety features. Current Ohio law says nothing about external bus cameras, but S.B. 62 would encourage their use. It does clarify that districts using camera technology would have to use them across all routes. External bus cameras Crossing arms Lane departure warning systems Electronic stability control Lighted mirrors Safer and approved bus frames Fully illuminated stop arms Collision avoidance systems Ground lights Reflective chevron Approved seat belt systems Ohio lawmakers renew push to regulate imitation meat and egg products S.B. 62 bill also states if a vehicle's driver cannot be identified, the car's registered owner could face the $300 civil penalty. H.B. 3 states that repeat offenders could also face class five suspensions of their drivers licenses, which could range from six months to three years. S.B. 62 had its first Senate committee hearing on Feb. 19, during which Gavarone addressed the Judiciary Committee and reminded members that the State Highway Patrol issued more than 16,000 citations for school bus and zone violations between 2018 and August 2023. 'No parent should ever have to worry about their child traveling to and from school,' Gavarone said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE can now raid schools: what protections central Ohio students have
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After President Donald Trump removed federal restrictions that limited Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from conducting raids in schools, hospitals and places of worship, some central Ohio school districts are working to reassure their students. Both the state of Ohio and individual public school districts offer protection for immigrant students. Westerville and Columbus City Schools both used resources to remind staff and families of those protections this week. At least one other district said they would send resources to families by the end of the week. In a letter from CCS to staff obtained by NBC4, the district is offering training for staff about immigration official procedures. Per its policy, visitors do not have permission to access school grounds without permission from the Office of General Counsel, who will have to review any warrant, subpoena or court order. Man found dead on Southwest Side unidentified Families in Columbus schools are asked to update their emergency contact information and all district staff, students and families are encouraged to be aware of their rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution, which are applicable regardless of immigration status. Westerville families were similarly encouraged to update their contact information, seek guidance from local resources and create a family plan in case of an immigration incident. 'All students have a right to public education, and the United States Supreme Court has confirmed that all students, regardless of their immigration status, may not be denied this constitutional right,' Superintendent Angela Chapman said in a letter to district families. 'Therefore, our CCS families should know that Columbus City Schools are and will continue to be a safe place for all students.' Under Plyler v. Doe, a Supreme Court case from 1982, it was determined immigration status cannot stop children from attending public school. According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, schools are only permitted to share students' personal information when required by law or when given permission by the family. Schools are not allowed to ask families their immigration status, nor can they require immigration documentation or Social Security numbers. How Husted backed Ohio school choice, religious programs If a family does choose to share information with the school, the school must protect private information 'that could put a student or family at risk,' the Department of Education and Workforce said. This protected information includes immigration status, student identification documents, where students were born, family information and information about where students attended school before. The Department of Education and Workforce, did not clarify how many students are immigrants, but nearly 80,000 students in Ohio are English Learners, making up 4.65% of all students. These students use their rights to learn English at school if they need extra support. Schools must check students' English fluency within the first 30 days a child is enrolled at school through the Ohio English Language Proficiency Screener. Families have the right to choose if they want their child to receive English language instruction, and they also have the right to receive interpretive and translation services if English is not their first language. Although NBC4 has received tips about immigration enforcement in the area, local officials and law enforcement said they are unaware of any ICE raids in central Ohio. NBC4 sister station WJW of Cleveland reported at least 58 ICE detainees from northeastern Ohio are being held near Chardon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
