Bill
HB 800
Establish universal preschool and all-day kindergarten in Ohio by 2031, funded by sports-gaming revenues and requiring higher staff credentials and program standards.
HB 800 (Ohio, 136th GA) — Preschool for All Act — Summary
Purpose and overall intent
- Establish universal preschool and all-day kindergarten in Ohio, beginning with a phased approach ending after July 1, 2031.
- Increase sports gaming tax to fund education and preschool initiatives, with dedicated funds for education, preschool programs, and enforcement.
- Reorganize preschool teacher qualifications, facility standards, waivers, and related school calendar/attendance rules to support universal preschool.
Key provisions and changes
1) Preschool and all-day kindergarten implementation
- Creates a structured plan to implement preschool programs and all-day kindergarten statewide beginning July 1, 2031.
- Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) must survey and hold stakeholder meetings with all school districts (city, local, exempted village) to assess capacity, staffing, transportation, costs, and other implementation challenges.
- The DEW must collect input from major education associations (teachers, administrators, boards, business officials) and compile findings by February 1, 2027.
- Legislative Service Commission (LSC) reports due by March 15, 2027, detailing the law and estimated implementation costs; LSC must present findings publicly and to key offices (Governor, OBM, Facilities Construction Commission).
2) Funding and tax provisions tied to sports gaming
- Repeals current 5753.021/5753.031 structure and creates new sports gaming revenue mechanisms.
- Tax on sports gaming receipts: 20% of receipts for tax periods before 2028; from 2028 onward, 20% for small market share (< 2.25%), and 33% for other operators.
- Revenues distributed to several funds:
- Sports Gaming Revenue Fund
- Sports Gaming Tax Administration Fund
- Sports Gaming Profits Education Fund (public and nonpublic K-12 education)
- Problem Sports Gaming Fund
- Sports Gaming Profits Preschool Fund (to fund licensed preschool programs operated by public schools)
- Monthly/quarterly transfers and allocations, with specified percentages and conditions; interest credited to funds.
3) Preschool staff qualifications and program standards
- Sec. 3301.50–3301.56 and related sections updated to reflect universal preschool planning:
- Preschool directors and site leaders generally required to hold appropriate preschool educator licenses and specific coursework; transition rules for pre-1988 hires based on prior credentials.
- Head teachers must hold at least a bachelor’s degree (new standard).
- All new preschool staff must meet minimum age/education requirements and obtain a credential (e.g., Child Development Associate) or equivalent.
- Annual in-service training requirement (15 hours/year until 45 total hours), with exemptions for those holding higher degrees or specific licenses.
- Staffing ratios and maximum group sizes by age category, with explicit schedules and exceptions (including Montessori and combined-age provisions).
- On-site first aid and disease prevention training; parental access to preschool sites; record-keeping requirements.
4) Preschool program standards and licensing (DEW and DCY involvement)
- Sec. 3301.53–3301.54 establish and enforce minimum standards for preschool programs, including:
- Safe, developmentally appropriate facilities
- Non-discrimination in staffing
- Immunization and emergency procedures
- Emergency medical authorization forms and parent rosters
- Compliance with special education rules where applicable
- Rules alignment with child care center standards and periodic review (every five years)
5) Waivers and regulatory adjustments
- Optional waivers from 2031-2032 requirements available for districts with procedural justification; process includes public hearings and potential extensions through 2033-34; waivers end beginning 2033-34.
- Districts granted waivers must maintain the 2031 baselines for kindergarten/preschool operations if waivers granted.
- Provisions allow waivers to cover certain local contexts while preserving health, safety, and educational standards.
6) Other education funding and structural changes
- Several cross-references to attendance, tuition, and inter-district arrangements for preschool and K-12 students, including:
- Tuition rules for out-of-district attendance
- Special education funding considerations
- McKinney-Vento homeless student provisions apply to preschool/kindergarten contexts
- Open enrollment and cross-district attendance considerations in various provisions
Potential impact
Notes
- The bill includes extensive amendments to numerous Revised Code sections and creates several new sections (e.g., 3301.542, 3301.591, 3301.592, 3313.6415, 3317.083) to support these changes.
- Timelines center on 2031 implementation milestones with data reporting through 2027–2029 for planning.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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