COLUMBUS, Ohio (6-10-26) — Ohio Excels, a business-backed education advocacy organization committed to high-quality education and workforce readiness, applauds the Ohio House and Senate for passing Senate Bill 19, an important math improvement measure.

Senate Bill 19 creates a pathway to advanced math and Algebra I in eighth grade for high-performing students who are ready to succeed, requires certain new teachers to demonstrate math proficiency before they are assigned to teach math in the classroom, provides evidence-based intervention services aligned to classroom instruction for our lowest-performing students, and directs the Department of Education and Workforce to review and identify high-quality math curriculum and instructional materials.

Lisa Gray, president of Ohio Excels

“Ohio has shown in reading that real progress is possible when the state pairs urgency, structure, and accountability with strong support for educators and students. Math deserves that same level of focus. Whether students pursue a skilled trade, an industry credential, or a college degree, they need a strong foundation in math skills like problem-solving and quantitative reasoning. Senate Bill 19 is a serious and necessary step forward for Ohio’s students and for Ohio’s future workforce. We are grateful to policymakers, especially Sen. Brenner and Rep. Fowler Arthur, for their hard work and leadership on math improvement. We urge Governor DeWine to sign this bill as quickly as possible so more Ohio students can get the support and opportunities they need.”