Education Agency Merger Bill Stalls Out

Legislation to merge state education agencies is not expected to advance. House Bill 512 would merge the Department of Higher Education with the Department of Education. The bill would also combine the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation into the new agency.

The OMA supports the bill as a first step to improve accountability and better prepare our workforce. Educator groups representing teachers, administrators and school boards have panned the bill.

The lawmaker chairing the bill’s assigned committee, Rep. Bill Blessing (R–Cincinnati), told reporters the House would discontinue hearings citing “too much opposition to move forward with it.” 6/21/2018