Top Issues
- Free Speech Parents Defending Education Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Olentangy Local School District’s ‘Anti-Harassment’ Policies
- Gender Ideology Columbus City Schools Paid Consultants $24,000 for Professional Development on ‘Queer and Trans Inclusion’ That Included the ‘Wheel of Power/Privilege’ and a recommendation that districts hide student records from parents
- Social-Emotional Learning Ohio Department of Education Approved and Launched CASEL Social-Emotional Learning Program in 2019
State Board of Education
Who's on your state board of education?
The State Board of Education is made up of 19 members—11 who are elected and eight who are appointed by the governor. The chairs of the education committees of the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate serve as non-voting ex officio members. The Superintendent of Public Instruction serves as secretary of the State Board of Education.
When's the next election/appointment?
The eight members who are appointed by the governor will be selected after Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race. For the remaining 11 members, six are elected during presidential elections, and five are elected during midterms.
When's the next curriculum update?
The Ohio Department of Education updates the curriculum for different subject areas in different years. The department is currently revising Fine Arts, Student Interactions with Police, and World Languages & Cultures curricula. You can find past adopted learning standards and curricula here.
The Ohio
Department of Education
“Governed by the State Board of Education, the Ohio Department of Education oversees the state’s public education system. This includes public school districts, joint vocational school districts, charter schools and other providers. It administers school funding, develops academic standards, administers achievement tests, licenses teachers and other personnel, evaluates school performance, and more.”
How did your district perform during the 2022-2023 school year? Check your district’s report card.
The Ohio
Legislature
Find your state legislator here.
Similar to Congress, the Ohio General Assembly is divided into the House
of Representatives and Senate. Your Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee Members can be found here, and your House Primary and Secondary Education Committee Members can be found here.
These committees conduct hearings, review, and amend bills proposed by a member of their legislative chamber. They also review bills after they have been passed by the other chamber of legislature. Remember, both chambers must pass a bill before it goes to the governor’s desk for a signature or a veto.
Recent Education Bills Introduced in State Legislature
School Boards
Several school districts in Ohio have school board elections in 2023. Ballotpedia tracks school board races in the largest 200 cities in the United States. You can read more about Ohio’s 2023 school board races on this Ballotpedia page.