Ohio's long-running experiment with state-led school takeovers is on the chopping block, as lawmakers in Columbus push a plan to shut down academic distress commissions and hand power back to local communities.
The new proposal would erase the takeover framework that critics say gave sweeping authority to state-appointed CEOs while sidelining elected school boards after repeated failing report-card grades. Backers argue the state has had its turn steering struggling districts and that it is time to return the wheel to the people who actually live and work in those communities.
As reported by Cleveland.com, Senate Bill 332, sponsored by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), got its first hearing this week in the Senate Education Committee. The bill would formally dissolve academic distress commissions and require schools with persistently low ratings to convene locally led "student support teams."
What SB 332 Would Do
Under SB 332, academic distress commissions would be wiped from state law. In their place, districts with certain low-performing buildings would be required to form student support teams that include school board members, administrators, teachers, parents and a representative from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
That structure, laid out in the bill text, mirrors the description in the Ohio Legislative Service Commission's status report and has been highlighted by education groups such as the Ohio Educational Service Center Association, which has summarized how the teams are supposed to function on the ground.
Why Sponsors Say It Is Needed
In committee testimony, Sen. Kent Smith told colleagues the state takeover model "has failed" and argued that Columbus should start listening to local voices instead of overruling them. Co-sponsor Sen. Al Cutrona echoed that point, saying local officials are best positioned to make decisions about how to turn around struggling schools.
Smith pointed to years of editorials and criticism tying the takeover framework to parental disengagement, low employee morale, and high leadership turnover, arguing that the cure has too often made the patient feel worse. Cleveland.com detailed those remarks and the broader debate during the hearing.
History And Local Impact
Academic distress commissions first appeared in Ohio law in the mid-2000s, then were significantly toughened by House Bill 70 in 2015, which expanded state oversight and let ADC-appointed CEOs effectively run entire districts. The Ohio Legislature records show how HB 70 reshaped that authority.
According to the Ohio Auditor of State and district records, Lorain's academic distress commission was dissolved in 2023, East Cleveland exited state oversight late in 2025, and Youngstown is now the only district still operating under an academic distress commission. The Youngstown City School District has outlined what that ongoing oversight looks like locally.
What Is Next In Columbus
For now, SB 332 remains parked in the Senate Education Committee after its initial hearing. Legislative tracking lists the bill as introduced on Dec. 1, 2025, and referred to committee on Feb. 11, 2026, a timeline detailed in the Ohio Legislative Service Commission status report.
Local leaders in Youngstown and other affected communities have already been pushing to end the takeover era and move back to what they describe as community-driven solutions. Regional coverage from WFMJ has captured both the relief and the lingering skepticism from families and educators watching the bill's progress.
If SB 332 clears the committee and wins full legislative approval, it would amount to a major rollback of more than a decade of state intervention strategy, shifting oversight to building-level teams and community partners instead of state-appointed commissions. Lawmakers in both parties say they want tools that focus on attendance, safety, and family engagement without what many see as a heavy-handed takeover model, though questions about accountability and long-term academic results are expected to fuel more pointed debate as hearings continue in Columbus.
