Bird & Koehler Introduce Legislation to Remove State Mandated Testing

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield) yesterday provided sponsor testimony to House Bill 67, legislation that would remove the requirement for Ohio school to administer state mandated tests for the 2020-2021 school year. 

House Bill 67 would also require the Ohio Department of Education to request a waiver for all federally mandated tests, as well as include an emergency clause to ensure the bill is implemented in a timely manner.

“In any other school year, under normal circumstances, I would not be here asking to waive testing requirements,” said Koehler. “However, this year is not like any other school year we have seen. When students return to school in March, schools need to concentrate on teaching material rather than testing. House Bill 67 ensures Ohio’s schools are legally able to do so.”

Bird followed, “Our teachers and school staff have been flexible during these turbulent times and need our support now more than ever. Ohio’s students’ time will be much better spent learning as opposed to preparing for these assessments.”

Bird and Koehler noted House Bill 67 should be signed by the Governor with an emergency clause by the first week of March, at the latest, to have any affect, as schools begin testing as early as the beginning of March. 

House Bill 67 will continue to have hearings in the House Higher Education and Career Readiness Committee.