On Dec. 7, the Ohio Senate voted 22-7 to approve Senate Bill 178, which would transfer much of the power over education policymaking from the State Board of Education to a cabinet director appointed by the governor. (See the bill summary from the Legislative Service Commission.) Specifically, SB 178 would create the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, headed by a gubernatorial appointee. The agency would have two divisions: one for K-12 education and one for workforce training. Gov. Mike DeWine supports the bill. House Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) has not yet committed to a vote on SB 178, according to Gongwer News Service. If the bill is not passed by the end of the year, it will need to be reintroduced in the next session, thereby resetting the legislative process. 12/8/2022