OH HB253

Establishes state policy requiring educators, administrators, and governing board members in public schools and higher education institutions to demonstrate both high competence and high character ethics, modeling positive traits including honesty, integrity, responsibility, compassion, and courage.

Creates the Ohio Education Leadership Character Ethics Task Force with nine members (three from House, three from Senate, superintendent of public instruction, chancellor of Ohio Board of Regents, and one governor appointee) to develop recommendations by March 31, 2010 for professional development standards, teacher preparation integration, and compliance measurement methods.

Requires the state board of education to adopt rules by July 1, 2011 mandating licensed educators complete at least three contact hours annually of leadership character ethics professional development and implement action plans for teaching character traits in classrooms.

Requires inclusion of leadership character ethics compliance notation on school district and building report cards beginning in the 2011-2012 school year.

Directs the Ohio Board of Regents to adopt a model leadership character ethics policy for state higher education institutions and requires an annual report to the General Assembly listing institutions that have adopted such policies.