Dive Brief:
- Ohio teachers are displeased with the state Board of Education's proposal to eliminate a law requiring schools to have a certain number of specialty teachers.
- The law in question requires schools to have at least eight specialty teachers for every 1,000 students, and educators fear that without this law there will be a number of staff cuts.
- The Ohio Board of Education argues that the decision is meant to give districts more flexibility.
Dive Insight:
The board's Operating Standards Committee approved the proposal by a 4-3 vote Monday, and it will now move to the state Board of Education. The board will have an initial vote in December and if that passes, a final vote in the spring.
Specialty teachers include educators who have a focus in art, music and/or physical education, as well as staff members who are social workers, nurses, guidance counselors, library and media specialists and visiting teachers, according to the current state law. The elimination of the requirement doesn't only mean staff cuts, it can also mean less of a focus on these special trades and skills.