H.B. No. 719 Summary

• Amends Ohio Revised Code section 3312.01 to expand the types of services provided by the Educational Regional Service System to include services related to reading and literacy, and services for English learners, in addition to special education and related services

• Establishes that the educational regional service system consists of advisory councils, fiscal agents for each region, educational service centers, information technology centers, and other regional education service providers

• Authorizes educational service centers to provide services including student performance assistance, professional development, teacher recruitment and retention, grant applications, and other educational or operational services through voluntary agreements

• Requires educational service centers to implement state and federally funded initiatives assigned by the general assembly or department of education

• Specifies that school districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic schools are not required to purchase services from regional centers, except that local school districts must receive mandated services from the educational service center in their territory