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HB 797

Enact the Ohio Students and Families Workforce Strengthening Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Karen Brownlee and 1 co-sponsor

Establishes a three-year paid Social Work Apprenticeship Pilot in high-need Ohio schools to support interns and strengthen school-based social work.

Referred to committee
#education #highereducation
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Bill Summary · HB 797

Overview

HB 797 (168th General Assembly, 2025-2026) proposes the Ohio Students and Families Workforce Strengthening Act. It creates a three-year Social Work Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) Internship Pilot Program aimed at strengthening the school-based social work workforce in underserved and high-need Ohio schools. The act also includes appropriations to fund the pilot and outlines reporting and governance provisions.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a paid internship pilot to support students and families by addressing nonacademic barriers to student success.
  • Test strategies to bolster the school-based social work workforce in high-need and underserved districts.
  • Clarify that the program is evaluative and not a step toward permanent expansion without further legislative action.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions:

    • Eligible student: enrolled in a master’s program at one of five Ohio universities (BGSU, Miami University, Ohio University, Wright State, or Youngstown State University) and working toward independent social worker licensure.
    • Qualifying school: public schools or related entities (districts, educational service centers, community schools, STEM schools) that serve at least 50% eligible-student free/reduced lunch and agree to employ an eligible student.
    • Supervisor: university-designated field instructor or similar supervisor.

  • Program design (Section 1(B)-(L)):

    • Duration: three-year pilot starting the academic year after enactment.
    • Funding: grants to eligible students for paid internships; total per student not to exceed $15,000 per school year; internships capped at 20 hours per week for up to 30 weeks.
    • Grant structure (two options): 1) Hourly wage model: $25 per hour, paid on the same schedule as other licensed educators at the qualifying school. 2) Lump-sum model: up to $15,000 per school year paid at the end of the internship period.
    • Termination and adjustments: rules for prorated payments if a student leaves, or temporary non-eligibility due to relocation or leave; limits on payments during non-eligibility periods.
    • Supervisors: up to $250 per eligible student supervised.
    • Evaluations: participating universities may continue existing evaluation processes; students must submit evaluations to the Chancellor, who uses them to determine continued eligibility.

  • Administration and reporting:

    • Chancellor to adopt administration rules and provide interim and final reports to the General Assembly.
    • Reports to include participation, placements, retention, challenges, workforce gaps, and outcomes; data to be aggregate and limited to reasonably available information.

  • Oversight and continuity:

    • After the first year, the Chancellor may expand cohorts or continue funding current participants, up to program completion.
    • New grants cease after the third academic year following enactment.

  • Appropriations:

    • $1,000,000 GRF in both FY 2027 and FY 2028 designated to Community Projects, to be used in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education for the SMART Internship Pilot.

Affected Parties

  • Eligible students: master’s students in social work at the five designated universities.
  • Qualifying schools (districts, ESCs, community and STEM schools) that hire eligible students.
  • Supervisors of eligible students (school-based social work professionals) who may receive stipends.
  • Higher education institutions and the Chancellor, which administer the program and evaluation.
  • General public in underserved/high-need school communities, through potential improvements to school-based social work support.

Timelines and Process

  • Effective date: upon enactment; program begins the academic year after enactment.
  • Pilot duration: three academic years.
  • Reporting: interim report after the second year; final report after program completion.
  • Grant termination: new grants cease after the third academic year; ongoing participants may complete internships under existing terms.

Notes

  • The bill clarifies that it does not mandate or expand clinical mental health treatment in schools.
  • It emphasizes evaluation to inform potential future expansion or modification.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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