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Proposal would add instructional hours to Ohio school year; sponsors say it would restore time lost since 2014
Summary
House Bill 145 would add 53 instructional hours statewide, increasing annual K–12 instructional hours to 1,054; sponsor Representative Byrd said the change would restore time reduced after 2014, while members questioned implementation, teacher compensation, and exemptions for release time.
Representative Byrd told the House Education Committee that House Bill 145 aims to return instructional time lost after a 2014 change from a days-based to an hours-based requirement. Byrd said the bill would add 53 hours, taking K–12 instruction from 1,001 hours to 1,054 hours, and argued that more time in front of teachers is linked to higher achievement.
Byrd framed the change as a restoration rather than a new mandate and cited comparative figures for neighboring states and international examples to illustrate the point that more instructional time correlates with higher student outcomes. He said the bill is supported by research and prior pilots that increased instructional time and observed gains.
Committee members raised logistical and fiscal questions. Representative Miller noted variation in daily scheduling and asked whether expanding hours simply shifts time toward longer days or longer years; Byrd said local districts retain schedule flexibility and that the bill would not return districts to a fixed 180-day year. Members repeatedly asked about teacher contracts and compensation for added time; sponsors said compensation should reflect added time in many circumstances and that the bill might require coordination with collective-bargaining agreements.
Members also pressed whether the bill allows exemptions or accommodations for specific grade levels (kindergarten), release time for agricultural education (FFA), religious instruction, or other statutory exemptions; Byrd said the committee should be careful about legislation that inadvertently excused students from instruction and suggested amendments or exceptions could be drafted.
No vote was taken; the committee adjourned after concluding HB145’s first hearing. Sponsors signaled willingness to work on amendments to address implementation timelines, collective-bargaining impacts, and district-level scheduling issues.
