Ohio’s governor is set to decide the fate of legislation that would require public schools to provide free academic interventions for struggling students in math and English language arts — and that carves out a narrow exemption for the state’s classical schools from a statewide reading curriculum mandate.
What Happened
The Ohio House passed Senate Bill 19 on Tuesday by a wide margin of 84 to 12, and the Ohio Senate concurred with the amended bill the following day, sending the measure to Gov. Mike DeWine. State Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) introduced the legislation.
The bill requires school districts and individual schools to offer free academic intervention to students who score at a limited skill level on state assessments in math or English language arts. Qualifying interventions include high-dosage tutoring, additional instruction time, an extended school calendar, and participation in a learning support program.
For math specifically, any school where 51 percent or fewer third-grade students score proficient on the math assessment would be required to develop a math achievement improvement plan. The bill also mandates that students who test at an advanced level in math be moved into higher-level courses. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would be required to compile a list of high-quality core curriculum and instructional materials.
The Classical School Exemption
A significant addition came from the Ohio House Education Committee, which inserted language exempting classical schools from the statewide science of reading curriculum requirement. That mandate, which took effect through Ohio’s two-year operating budget in 2023, became required for the 2024–25 school year.
Ohio has eight classical schools that follow a Hillsdale College K–12 curriculum model. These schools emphasize teaching Latin and close reading of Western classic texts — an approach their supporters argue is philosophically distinct from the phonics-based frameworks at the center of the science of reading movement. The carveout allows these schools to continue operating under their existing instructional model without penalty.
The exemption was the most contested element of the bill’s evolution, though the final House vote reflected broad bipartisan support for the overall package.
Bipartisan Support, Stated Goals
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed support for the bill’s core intervention framework. State Rep. Sarah Fowler-Arthur (R-Ashtabula) said the legislation is designed to reach students at every level, noting it “opens the next door” for students ready to move ahead while providing “targeted supports” for those who are struggling, especially in math and reading.
State Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) emphasized the long-term stakes of early math deficits. “Mathematics proficiency opens doors,” Brennan said. “When students fall behind in mathematics, the consequences can follow them for years.”
State Rep. Michelle Teska (R-Clearcreek Twp.) was among the 12 votes against the bill, though specific objections were not detailed in available public statements.
By the Numbers
- 84–12: House vote approving Senate Bill 19
- 51%: Math proficiency threshold that triggers a required improvement plan
- 8: Classical schools in Ohio that would benefit from the science of reading exemption
- 40+: States and the District of Columbia that have passed laws or adopted policies on evidence-based academic instruction since 2013
- 2024–25: School year when Ohio’s science of reading mandate became required statewide
Broader Context
Ohio’s legislation reflects a national push toward structured academic intervention, particularly in foundational literacy and math skills. More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have enacted or implemented evidence-based instruction policies since 2013, driven largely by persistently low reading and math scores on national assessments.
Ohio has been an active participant in that trend, including through its earlier science of reading push and ongoing debates over curriculum standards in K–12 education. The classical school exemption adds a layer of complexity, raising questions about how states balance evidence-based mandates with alternative educational philosophies.
What’s Next
The bill now heads to Gov. DeWine for signature or veto. If signed, school districts across Ohio would need to begin structuring compliant intervention programs, and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would undertake the process of assembling its recommended curriculum and materials list. The Ohio Legislature has sent several high-profile bills to the governor in recent weeks as the current session moves through its calendar.