Delaware County Review

The Ohio Senate has approved House Bill 250, which introduces modifications to the Military Enlistment Seal required for high school graduation and mandates public schools in Ohio to establish a policy on cell phone use during school hours. State Senator Andrew Brenner supported the bill.

Ohio students are required to earn "seals" in various categories to qualify for a high school diploma and demonstrate job readiness. House Bill 250 introduces two new ways for students to earn the Military Enlistment Seal: by accepting a scholarship to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or by being appointed to a U.S. military service academy.

The legislation also requires all school districts in Ohio to adopt policies limiting student cell phone use during school hours to minimize classroom distractions. "House Bill 250 lays out guidelines for schools to eliminate the hindrance of cell phone usage by students during the school day," said Brenner. "This will provide better learning environments and outcomes for both students and teachers."

Additionally, amendments to House Bill 250 authorize the Department of Education and Workforce to establish two separate Pupil Transportation Pilot Programs—one for Central Ohio and another for Montgomery County—instead of a single program covering both areas. The bill also allocates $38 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 towards the Ohio Adoption Grant Program. "This bill also provides critical funding to the Ohio Adoption Grant Program so that our state can continue providing support to families pursuing adoption," stated Brenner.

House Bill 250 now moves forward to the Ohio House for concurrence.