Ohio Senate Approves Bill to Provide Academic Support and Tutoring for Struggling Students
The Ohio Senate has unanimously passed Senate Bill 19, a landmark academic intervention bill designed to support students who score below proficient on state assessment tests.
The legislation would allow public school students who fall short in math or English language arts to receive academic intervention services at no cost, ensuring that students struggling to meet state standards get timely, targeted assistance. The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration.
According to Senator Andrew Brenner, the bill’s sponsor, the legislation is designed to make the education system responsive to the needs of students, not adults. “If we are unable to say that our students who need the most help are in fact receiving assistance from their school, we are putting the interest of the adults ahead of the needs of the children,” he said.
Brenner noted that nearly a fifth of Ohio students scored limited proficiency in English and almost a third scored limited proficiency in math during the 2022–23 school year, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to address learning loss.
Under the bill, students would receive evidence-based interventions such as high-dosage tutoring at least three days a week, additional instructional time, and an extended school calendar. Once a student demonstrates proficiency, they will no longer be required to receive services, though schools may continue supporting them.
Ohio S.B. 19 also places particular emphasis on math achievement, requiring schools to develop individualized math improvement and monitoring plans for students who perform below proficient on third-grade math assessments.
These plans would identify specific math deficiencies, describe the additional instructional services provided, involve parents or guardians, and outline a monitoring process to ensure student progress.
Senator Tim Schaffer highlighted the critical importance of math, noting, “Math is absolutely essential to our economy, to our national defense, to promoting peace throughout the world… Everything depends, ultimately, on the basis of good math.”
Senate Bill 19 aligns with the fundamental right of every child to education as recognized in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees that all children should have access to quality learning opportunities and support to reach their potential.
By providing targeted interventions for students struggling in core subjects, the bill upholds the principle that no child should be left behind in their education and ensures that every student has the resources they need to succeed academically.
