S.B. No. 368 Summary

• Amends section 3301.07 of the Revised Code to require the State Board of Education to formulate and prescribe minimum standards requiring phonics as a technique in teaching reading and writing in grades kindergarten through five.

• Mandates the State Board provide in-service training programs for teachers on the use of phonics as a teaching technique for reading and writing in grades kindergarten through five.

• Appropriates $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 to the Department of Education for Educator Preparation grants to support professional development for English language arts teachers on phonics instruction.

• Grants must be awarded to city, local, and exempted village school districts, with the Superintendent of Public Instruction administering the grant program and establishing application procedures and award amounts.