H.B. 563 - Future Educators Support Act

• Requires the Department of Education and Workforce to develop an annual online staffing survey that school districts must complete reporting vacant or unfilled positions by role, teaching vacancies filled by long-term substitutes, retired teachers, and alternative-license teachers.

• Authorizes the Department of Education and Workforce to provide student teachers with cost-of-living stipends and test fee waivers or reimbursements based on financial need during their required school building work period.

• Permits public school districts to pay student teachers at least the minimum wage under Ohio Constitution Article II, Section 34a and state law, or alternatively offer them health care benefits on the same terms as district teachers.

• Allows state institutions of higher education to waive all or part of tuition for student teachers during the academic period when they are required to work in school buildings.

• Requires the Department of Job and Family Services to include teachers on the list of in-demand jobs, regardless of other methodologies used to determine that list.