March 25, 2020
Dear Friends of the Shaker Heights Schools,
The Ohio General Assembly today unanimously approved a
bill that will halt expansion of the EdChoice voucher program. Governor Mike DeWine said he will sign the bill into law. As a result, the list of schools eligible for EdChoice will be effectively frozen at 2019-2020 levels.
This is a tremendous victory for public school students, families and taxpayers. This legislation will allow time to develop longer-term solutions to the EdChoice voucher program and the state school report card. As I wrote this week in a
column in the Cleveland Jewish News, this legislation also recognizes the importance of our public schools to millions of Ohio students and families.
Please know that our voices mattered. Lawmaker after lawmaker told me that they were overwhelmed by the emails, letters and calls from Shaker residents. The Shaker delegation that went to Columbus to testify was the largest of any public school district.
In addition to EdChoice, this legislation addresses several other issues important to public education:
- Waives K-12 testing and loosens graduation criteria: The law will waive state testing requirements and report cards for this school year, and provides additional flexibility to allow high school seniors to graduate.
- Waives limitations on distance learning for Ohio K-12 schools: The law will allow schools to use distance learning to make up for the weeks schools will be closed.
- Allows for school meal programs to continue now and through the summer: The measure temporarily exempts schools and other entities from state food-processing requirements so they can continue serving meals to students.
- Permits public meetings electronically: Current law mandates that most government bodies must conduct business in person, but this legislation temporarily allows public meetings, including School Board meetings, to be held remotely, so long as the public has access.
Thank you to the Shaker community for all of your support of the Shaker public schools.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Glasner, Superintendent
Shaker Heights City School District