Representatives Don Jones and Bride Sweeney Introduce Higher Education Degree Attainment Reform Legislation

COLUMBUS—State Representatives Don Jones (R-Freeport) and Bride Sweeney (D-Cleveland) today introduced House Bill 9, their Higher Education Degree Attainment Reform legislation.

“As a former teacher you want your students to succeed at the next level,” said Rep. Jones. “There’s not a lot more upsetting than having to see your former students spend more time in school than necessary. Secondly, as a business owner this hurts us as well because people are not entering the workforce in a timely manner. I’m proud to introduce HB 9 along with Rep. Sweeney to address these issues.”

The legislation contains common sense reforms to improve credit transfers from one public school to another and help students who have left school determine if, with the coursework they have completed, they are eligible for an associate’s degree or job training certificate.

“By streamlining the transfer process and making sure more students graduate on time, we make the promise of a college education more attainable for Ohio students,” said Rep. Sweeney. “It will make our workforce more attractive and help us keep the best and brightest right here at home, in Ohio.”

HB 9 will now be assigned to a committee and will await its first hearing.