White, Lampton Bill to Expand Educational Opportunities and Ease Transition for Military Children Becomes Law

COLUMBUS – State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek) today announced that House Bill 244, legislation that expands educational opportunities for Ohio’s military children, has become law.

HB 244 will help ease military children’s transition into a new school as their families move in and out of Ohio. The bill specifically allows local education agencies to permit children of military families to participate in both virtual school enrollments and advance enrollments as they prepare to move to a new military installation with orders in hand.

The legislation allows students to participate, or continue to participate, in a school district’s virtual schooling as they move in and out of a district. HB 244 also waives the proof of residency requirements until the student begins school. 

With military families moving six to nine times during their children’s growing up years, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Lampton’s and White’s House districts, and other Ohio military installations bring thousands of school-age children to the Buckeye state.

“House Bill 244 removes barriers and enables our schools to be more flexible and welcoming to families at a time in their service that can be extremely stressful,” said White. “It’s important for supporting our military families who sacrifice so much for our freedom, and it’s important for our state as we seek to remain a vital partner for our nation’s defense and a host to strategic military installations which drive innovation and economic growth across Ohio.”

Additionally, the Ohio Senate added language to HB 244 to prohibit a public school or state institution of higher education from requiring vaccines that are not fully approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or discriminating against an individual who has not received the vaccine.

“It is critically important that we support our military families’ education and wellbeing as they transition in and out of the military installations in our state,” said Lampton. “Additionally, I support the Senate amendment to House Bill 244. By prohibiting our educational institutions from requiring vaccines that are not fully approved by the FDA, we are ensuring that safety is at the forefront of our priorities.