Rep. Weinstein Announces $4.66M for State Board of Education

Allocation supports teacher certification and licensure fund

August 21, 2024

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D- Hudson) Monday announced the Controlling Board’s approval of $4.66M for the State Board of Education (SBoE) to support the SBoE’s Teacher Certification and Licensure Fund. This funding is a crucial lifeline that staves off a potential 75% increase in mandatory teacher licensure fees by stabilizing the Teacher Certification and Licensure Fund.

The State Board of Education has been grappling with severe financial challenges due to changes in its funding structure recently imposed by the Republican Majority as well as the GOP’s 2017 decision to take $10M in teacher fee revenue out of the Teacher Certification and Licensure Fund to fund other state obligations (see HB 49 of the 132nd General Assembly).

“After months of hearing from my constituents about their concerns over significant increases in license fees, I’m pleased to see this issue addressed,” said Rep. Weinstein. “Although we still have considerable work ahead and will need a permanent solution in our next budget, I am confident that this funding will make a significant and immediate difference for our school districts. It will enable every teacher in the state to afford license renewals and reassure parents that their children are being taught by qualified professionals."

Thanks to the Controlling Board’s action, this funding will be instrumental in temporarily stabilizing the Board’s finances and ensuring that Ohio’s educators are not subjected to an excessive and burdensome increase in license fees in the near future.

Additionally, the Controlling Board approved $168.8M under Ohio Department of Transportation’s state and federal Highway Construction funds to contract with various vendors to provide construction plans, environmental investigations, planning services, construction inspections, and right of way acquisition for various projects throughout the state.

Some other items approved by the Controlling Board include:

$26.6M under Ohio Department of Natural Resources for various renovation and improvement projects at state parks throughout the state.
$8.5M for Department of Developmental Disabilities Community Capital Assistance Program projects to develop community housing for people with developmental disabilities throughout the state.
$3.8M under the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to support high-dosage tutoring services throughout the state for students most impacted by learning loss as a result of the pandemic.