Opposition testimony on House Bill 512 (Representative Reineke’s Education and Workforce Alignment Legislation, see previous posts for background information) is needed this week!  You can help make our voices heard by 1) ATTENDING the hearing, 2) Submitting TESTIMONY, and 3) CALLING Committee Members.

This bill negatively impacts every form of education in Ohio: traditional public school, private school, Christian/religious schools, home education, e-schooling, career tech, etc…  Each of these groups are regulated through a public rule making process which currently goes through the State Board of Education (comprised of 11 elected members and 8 appointed by the Governor).  Under the legislation, a new mega-agency becomes responsible for overseeing the regulation of all PK-12 education, career tech and higher education under one director appointed by the Governor.  This undermines our constitutional separation of powers, transparency of the rule making process, and accountability to the voters for regulations created.

Here is what you can do to help STOP HB512’s CRADLE to CAREER legislation:

1. ATTEND the hearing!  Bring your family and friends… make it an educational day trip to the Columbus Statehouse!  It is CRITICAL that the committee see the number of people that oppose this legislation.  You can find the details here.
2. TESTIFY against the legislation! Even a single paragraph stating your position and reason for opposition would be helpful! You can submit written or written and oral testimony.  A GAOCWitnessInformationform needs to be completed by each person testifying and testimony is requested 24 hours in advance of the hearing – that means the submission deadline is Tuesday morning (although you can continue sending written testimony after that time, you may not be permitted to give oral testimony.)
   Email your written/oral testimony to: GovernmentAccountability&OversightCommittee@ohiohouse.gov
3. CONTINUE CALLING the Committee Members!  If you are unable to attend the hearing please call the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee Members and let them know you OPPOSE HB 512.

This legislation is not “a homeschool thing” or “a public school thing.”  We need to stand together against the undermining of Ohio’s families in HB 512.  Hear this reminder from Dietrich Bonhoffer, a German Pastor during WWII:

“First they came for the Communists,
but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists,
but I was neither, so I did not speak out.
Then they came for the Jews,
but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out.
And when they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Thank you for standing together with me in opposition to HB 512!  Sarah

Additional Information:

Follow event & get updates: https://www.facebook.com/events/2037888466483107/

Address: Ohio State House, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215
Parking cost: $7-20 depending on location.

Complete this form when submitting testimony: GAOCWitnessInformationform

Email testimony & witness form to Chairman Blessing: GovernmentAccountability&OversightCommittee@ohiohouse.gov

Contact information for Committee Members:
Chairman Louis Blessing III – (Co-Sponsor of HB 512) (614) 466-9091
Vice – Chairman Bill Reineke (Sponsor of HB 512) – (614) 466-1374
Kathleen Clyde (Running for State Office) – (614) 466-2004
Riordan McClain (replacing Keith Faber 2/22) – (614) 644-6265
Timothy Ginter – (614) 466-8022
Dave Greenspan – (614) 466-0961
Brigid Kelly – (614) 466-5786
Bernadine Kennedy Kent – (614) 466-5343
P. Scott Lipps – (614) 644-6023
Dorothy Pelanda (Co-Sponsor of HB 512) – (614) 466-8147
Bill Sietz – (614) 466-8258
Ryan Smith (Running for House Speaker) – (614) 466-1366
Martin J. Sweeney – (614) 466-3350