Republicans Propose Education Department Reform

House Republicans this week held a press conference to announce introduction of a bill that would consolidate the Department of Education, the Department of Higher Education, and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation into a single new entity, called the Department of Learning and Achievement.

The head of the new department would be appointed by the governor. The state superintendent and the state school board, both enshrined in the Ohio constitution, would remain, but their policymaking authority would be transferred to the new department. The aim is to strengthen the accountability system under the authority of the governor.

Education lobby groups expressed concern with the proposal, while education reform groups praised it. The governor supports the measure.

The OMA has a longstanding position of support for reform that realigns the education accountability system so that the governor is accountable to the public for system performance.