As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 523

2025-2026

To enact sections 3319.66, 3319.70, 3345.84, and 6301.113 of the Revised Code to enact the Future Educators Support Act regarding financial support for student teachers and teaching as an in-demand job.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 3319.66, 3319.70, 3345.84, and 6301.113 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3319.66. (A) To the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, the state board of education and the department of education and workforce shall provide financial support to an individual enrolled in a teacher preparation program approved under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code during the period in which the individual is working as a student teacher or participating in any similar teacher preparation program field experience, as follows:

(1) The department shall provide a cost-of-living stipend. A student teacher may receive the cost-of-living stipend authorized under this section in addition to receiving payment from a school district or school in accordance with section 3319.70 of the Revised Code.

(2) The state board shall provide test fee reimbursements based on financial need.

(B) If funds are appropriated, the state board and the department shall establish procedures as necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 3319.70. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Public school district" means all of the following:

(a) A city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district;

(b) An educational service center;

(d) A STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code;

(e) A college-preparatory boarding school established under Chapter 3328. of the Revised Code.

(2) "Student teacher" means an individual who teaches students either independently or under supervision or participates in a similar field experience as part of a teacher preparation program approved under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code.

(B) A public school district may do either or both of the following:

(1) Pay a student teacher in the district a wage rate that is not less than the wage rate calculated in accordance with Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 34a and section 4111.02 of the Revised Code;

(2) Offer a student teacher in the district health care benefits on the same terms and conditions as health care benefits provided to teachers in the district.

Sec. 3345.84. A state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code, may establish a lower differential tuition rate, which may include a waiver of general or instructional fees, for an individual enrolled in a teacher preparation program approved under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code for the period in which the individual is working as a student teacher or participating in any teacher preparation program field experience the state institution of higher education determines to be similar to student teaching.

Sec. 6301.113. The department of job and family services shall update the list of in-demand jobs required under section 6301.11 of the Revised Code to include teachers, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the methodology developed under that section.

Section 2. This act shall be known as the Future Educators Support Act.