Issue Position: Renewing Our Commitment to World-Class Education

Issue Position

Quality education is a cornerstone of our democracy and plays a critical role in revitalizing Ohio's economy. Ohio's children must have access to a high quality education, which will give them the best opportunity to compete for jobs and economic success. Additionally, workforce development and job skills training are areas Mike Dovilla believes play a critical role in giving our students and workers the best opportunity to succeed. As Ohio continues to fight its way out of the recession, preparing our young people -- as well as those who have faced employment difficulties -- with a 21st century education and job training will help put them in a position to find high-paying jobs in our state. Dovilla remains committed to working with Ohio's educators to continue striving for this goal, and along the way he has supported many education reforms to do just that.

Dovilla authored and sponsored House Bill 331, which created the Cybersecurity, Education and Economic Development Council, a body that will make recommendations for creating and retaining jobs in information technology, one of Ohio's fastest growing employment fields. Understanding schools face a great deal of economic obstacles, Dovilla supported House Bill 30, which eliminated numerous costly school mandates. And he authored an amendment included in the state budget which requires school districts to report annually their ratio of administrative to instructional spending, a good first step to drive more dollars into the classroom by encouraging districts to reduce overhead expenses.

As vice-chairman of the House Education Committee, Mike Dovilla is also working with colleagues to address Ohio's long-standing challenges with its school funding formula, a matter of particular importance to the suburban public school districts he represents. And Dovilla stood up -- even when it was unpopular within his own party -- to advocate with Mayor Frank Jackson for The Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools, a critically important measure to improve struggling public and charter schools in northeast Ohio's core city. By putting the needs of Cleveland's children ahead of politics, Mike Dovilla demonstrated the courage and character for which he is known in his district and throughout the region.

A proud graduate of Berea's public schools, Mike Dovilla believes education is most effective when parents play an integral role in their children's learning experience. By empowering parents, teachers, and principals to have a more direct part in each student's individual needs, we can give our children the best chance for educational success. It is time the values of our classrooms reflect the values of our homes, and that is only possible by making parents part of the answer in addressing education reform.

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