OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
S.B. 14 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for S.B. 14’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Sen. Hoagland
Effective Date:
Mariah Maldovan, Attorney
Allison Schoeppner, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
Permits a school district, community school, or STEM school to employ as a teacher an
eligible veteran who does not hold an educator license.
Establishes related service, educational, registration, and mentorship requirements that
a veteran must meet in order to be employed as a teacher.
Permits an eligible veteran to teach a core subject area.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Employment of veterans as unlicensed teachers
The bill revises the law that permits a school district to employ as a teacher an eligible
U.S. armed forces veteran who does not hold an educator license. The bill extends the authority
to community and STEM schools.1 It also changes the eligibility requirements for a veteran and
requires a veteran to register with the Department of Education. Further, it requires a veteran
to have an assigned mentor who meets prescribed qualifications. Finally, it provides an
exception to the “properly certified or licensed” teacher requirement, permitting an eligible
veteran to teach in a core subject area.
Eligibility
The following table compares the eligibility requirements a veteran must meet to qualify
to be employed as an unlicensed teacher under current law and the bill.
1 R.C. 3319.283(A).
January 30, 2023
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
Current law S.B. 14
The veteran was honorably discharged The veteran received an honorable discharge or a
between June 30, 1997, and June 30, 2000 (R.C. medical separation from the Armed Forces
3319.283(A)(1)). (R.C. 3319.283(B)(1)(b)).
No provision. The veteran completed at least 48 months of active
duty military service (R.C. 3319.238(B)(1)(a)).
The veteran had meaningful teaching or other The veteran has satisfied one of the following:
instructional experience while in the Armed
1. Has a letter from a former commanding
Forces (R.C. 3319.283(A)(2)).
officer stating the veteran is qualified to
teach;
2. Earned a master training specialist
certification from the U.S. Navy;
3. Served as a training officer or a lead
instructor; or
4. Served as a noncommissioned officer,
warrant officer, or senior enlisted person
(R.C. 3319.283(B)(1)(c)).
No provision. The veteran has demonstrated mastery of the
subject area to be taught, as determined by the
district or school (R.C. 3319.283(B)(2)).
The veteran holds at least a bachelor’s degree The veteran completed at least 60 college credits
(R.C. 3319.283(A)(3)). with a G.P.A. of at least 2.5 out of 4.0 from one or
more accredited institutions of higher education
(R.C. 3319.283(B)(3)).
Registration
The bill conditions employment upon completion of a criminal records check, after
which the veteran must submit the criminal records check to and register with the Department.
The Department must then enroll the veteran in the retained applicant fingerprint database
(RAPBACK) in the same manner it would for a licensed teacher.
The Department cannot accept the application of a veteran who has pleaded guilty to,
been found guilty of, or been convicted of any offenses prescribed under continuing law that
preclude employment in K-12 schools. If the Department receives notification through
RAPBACK of the arrest or conviction of a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher, it must
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As Introduced
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notify the employing district or school. The Department also may take any disciplinary action
authorized under law against the veteran as if the veteran were a licensed educator. 2
Mentorship
The bill requires a school district or school to assign a licensed teacher to mentor a
veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher. The mentorship must last for at least the first two
years of the veteran’s employment. The mentor must have at least three years of teaching
experience in any of grades K-12. If the employer is a district, the mentor also must have
received a rating of skilled or higher on the mentor’s most recent performance evaluation.3
Veteran may teach core subject area
Continuing law prohibits a school district or STEM school from employing a teacher to
provide instruction in a core subject area, unless the teacher is “properly certified or licensed.”
As an exception to that prohibition, the bill permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed
teacher to provide instruction in core subject areas.
A teacher is “properly certified or licensed” if the teacher has completed all
requirements for certification or licensure in the subject areas and grade levels in which the
teacher provides instruction. Core subject areas include reading and English language arts,
math, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts.4
Law retained by the bill
The bill retains provisions of continuing law that apply to a veteran employed as an
unlicensed teacher. Specifically, it:
1. Requires the veteran to complete 15 hours of approved professional development every
five years;5 and
2. Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to revoke the veteran’s right to
teach if, after an investigation and an adjudication, the state Superintendent determines
the veteran is not competent to teach.6
Veterans currently employed as unlicensed teachers
The bill expressly permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher prior the bill’s
effective date to remain employed after that date. However, that veteran must meet the
professional development requirements under continuing law and comply with the bill’s new
2 R.C. 3319.283(D).
3 R.C. 3319.283(F).
4 R.C. 3319.074 and 3319.283(C).
5 R.C. 3319.283(C).
6 R.C. 3319.283(E).
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As Introduced
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
registration requirement. The veteran also remains subject to the state Superintendent’s
authority to revoke a right to teach.7
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 01-11-23
ANSB0014IN-135/ar
7 R.C. 3319.283(G).
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As Introduced