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Published on January 15, 2025
Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur Appointed Chair of Ohio House Education CommitteeSource: Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio's House of Representatives is kickstarting the new legislative session, filling key leadership roles. Among them, State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) has been appointed to chair the House Education Committee, a significant position that will influence policy direction for K-12 education within the state. This announcement was made public yesterday by Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima).

Speaker Huffman, detailing the importance of committee work to the legislative process, expressed confidence in Fowler Arthur, having closely observed her previous contributions. "Having previously served as vice chair of this committee in the past General Assembly, I am confident in Representative Fowler Arthur’s experience and expertise as she steps into the role of leading the House Education Committee," Huffman said in a statement obtained by Ohio House of Representatives News.

Fowler Arthur is not new to the hallways of Ohio's education policy landscape. Beginning her third term in the Ohio House, she cut her teeth, serving for eight years on the Ohio State Board of Education, taking on several leadership roles therein. Her legislative background is expansive, with a hand previously in committees tackling subjects ranging from Aviation & Aerospace to Behavioral Health.

Asserting her ongoing commitment to the educational well-being of Ohio's youth, Fowler Arthur stated, “I am honored to be chosen as Chair of the House Education Committee by Speaker Matt Huffman. As we continue to expand school choice and access to education options, we must strive to minimize unnecessary regulation of all schools – public and private.” Ohio House of Representatives News reported her statement advocating for the rights of parents in education and reflecting her aim to shepherd school choice.

Within the scope of her new chairship, Fowler Arthur is expected to lead with the tenets she has stood by throughout her tenure: expanding educational options and advocating for parental rights in children's education. Her appointment has inevitably set the stage for Ohio's direction regarding education policy in the upcoming sessions, with an eye on school choice and regulatory debates.