COLUMBUS, Ohio - A source inside the Ohio Statehouse told The Ohio Press Network that State Board of Education President Laura Kohler will announce her resignation on Friday.
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and State Board of Education have been in the spotlight for issues ranging from: critical race theory language used in the board’s Resolution 20 (later rescinded); endorsements of in-school COVID-19 interventions such as masking, vaccinating and quarantining; to the group of Ohio school boards leaving the national association of school boards over the national organization’s part in U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s memorandum to U.S. attorneys, the FBI and the U.S. Dept of Justice regarding enhanced policing of concerned parents at school board meetings.
Earlier this month, for the first time in 25 years, the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review delivered a finding that advised against a rule change proposed by the ODE. The Common Sense Initiative also advised against the change – the rule would have removed a requirement for schools to teach certain subjects such as world languages, business, assault prevention and instruction formerly referred to as home economics.
This is a developing story.