Enact the Return to Learn Act

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dontavius Jarrells and 2 co-sponsors

The bill aims to establish a framework of policies and supports to return and sustain in-person K-12 education in Ohio.

Referred to committee

#education #primaryandsecondaryeducation

Overview

HB 847, introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives in the 136th General Assembly, is titled the Return to Learn Act. The bill introduces measures related to education policy with the goal of facilitating a return to in-person learning under specified conditions. The exact text is not provided here, but the bill’s title and context indicate a focus on strategies, requirements, or supports to resume or maintain in-person classroom learning.

Purpose and intent

Establish a framework to support Ohio schools in returning to or maintaining traditional in-person instruction.

Address planning, resources, and procedures that enable schools to operate physically in classrooms, potentially in response to disruptions (e.g., health, safety, or other emergencies).

Provide guidance or requirements that districts, teachers, students, and families would need to follow to return to learn on-site.

Key provisions and changes (as indicated by title and sponsor context)

Creation or designation of a program, policy, or set of requirements aimed at “returning to learn” in-person instruction.

Possible allocation of resources, guidelines, or standards to assist schools in transitioning from remote or hybrid modes to full-time in-person learning.

Potential coordination among state departments of education, health, and local districts to support safe and effective classroom learning.

Inclusion of co-sponsors from multiple perspectives, suggesting a broad intent to address practical implementation at the district level.

Note: Without the bill text, the exact provisions, mechanisms, funding amounts, timelines, and enforcement details cannot be specified.

Affected parties and entities

Students enrolled in Ohio public and potentially private K-12 schools.

Teachers and school staff responsible for delivering in-person instruction.

School districts, charter schools, and other local education entities implementing the policy.

Parents and guardians involved in decisions about school operations and attendance.

State education agencies and relevant health or safety authorities if the bill establishes cross-agency coordination.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Introduced on 2026-05-06.

As an introduced measure, the bill would typically move through committee referral, potential amendments, and floor consideration before any final passage.

Any timelines for implementing the Return to Learn provisions would depend on statutory language (e.g., effective dates, phased implementation, or funding periods) once the bill is fully drafted.

Potential impact

If enacted, the bill could set expectations or requirements for districts to plan and execute in-person learning with defined supports.

It may influence funding allocations, operational guidelines, and safety protocols related to returning to and sustaining on-site education.

The measure could affect decision-making for school calendars, attendance policies, and contingency planning for disruptions to in-person instruction.

If you have access to the full text of HB 847, I can provide a more precise, clause-by-clause summary outlining each provision, its fiscal impact, and implementation details.