Manning's Legislation Reduces State Testing in Schools

Today, State Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) announces that House Bill 239 passed within the Ohio House. The legislation eliminates the requirement of high school students needing to take the nationally standardized college admission assessment for graduation and reduces the overall number of end-of-course exams. Manning is a primary sponsor of the legislation.

“I’ve heard from many parents, educators, and superintendents on the concerns about these standardized assessments,” said Manning. “As a retired teacher, I believe the education process for students should not be so heavily weighted on these assessments and end-of-course exams. With this legislation, we can scale-back on the high-stakes nature of testing.”

Under House Bill 239, it specifies that:

• For the Class of 2023 and beyond, it will reduce the number of end-of-course exams from seven to four (Algebra I, English Language Arts II, science, and social studies), which combines American Government and American History into one while still emphasizing the testing on our founding documents. Only Algebra I and ELA II are required for graduation;

• For the 2020-2021 school year, it prohibits a school district from retaining third grade students who do not attain a passing score on the third grade English language arts assessment; and

• College admission assessments at the high school level are not required unless a guardian opts-in the student and would be paid for through the state for students in the eleventh grade.

The bill passed out of committee earlier this week after holding five hearings and receiving input from many within the education community, including supportive testimony from local educators Rob Schofield of Avon Lake City Schools and Matthew Jablonski of Elyria High.

“House Bill 239 is the logical reversal of a failed experiment in excessive standardized testing, and the most common sense piece of education policy that I have ever seen,” said Jablonski.

The legislation will now proceed onto the Senate for further action.