White's Bill to Expand Access to Educational Opportunities for Military Children Passes Ohio House

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday approved House Bill 244, legislation sponsored by State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek) that would expand access to educational opportunities for Ohio’s military children.

Under the bill, local education agencies would be allowed to permit children of military families to participate in both virtual school enrollments and advanced enrollments as they prepare to move to a new military installation with permanent duty station order in hand. Additionally, a military family moving to or within Ohio on active duty can apply for enrollment for their child in a school district in the same manner and at the same time as students who already reside in the school district.

“Supporting our military families is an issue we can all unite around,” said White. “It’s critically important that Ohio continues to grow its reputation as a welcoming state for our military families to help them flourish. We need to do more to support these children and their families who already sacrifice so much for our freedom, and House Bill 244 is a step in the right direction to achieve that.”

Current Ohio law requires military families to wait until they are physically located in district boundaries before they can register for courses and start courses. This creates uncertainty and stress for families and can cause a student to fall behind in class. The advanced enrollment option under House Bill 244 would help reduce this stress and ensure students can flourish in the midst of difficult transitions through applying for enrollment and register for classes in advance.

White concluded, “It is important for our state as we seek to remain a vital partner for our nation’s defense and a host to strategic military installation, which drive innovation and economic growth across Ohio.”

House Bill 244 passed with a vote of 97-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.