SA Series 5319 AV

              Series SA 5319 AV
Ohio Dept. of Education
Talking about schools
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
State Archives Record Series
SA 5319 AV
Ohio Department of Education
Talking about schools
OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES
Series Number: 5319 AV
Creating Agency: Ohio Department of Education
Series Title: Talking about schools
Dates of Series: 2001-2002
Media: Videotape
Quantity: 0.24 cubic feet
Location: Ohio Historical Center
AGENCY BACKGROUND
Legislative concern with education in the area that is now Ohio dates from the time of
the establishment of the Northwest Territory in 1787. The Ordinance of 1787 that
established the territory included the statement “Religion, morality, and knowledge being
necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means
of education shall be encouraged.” The 1802 Ohio Constitution included instructions to
the General Assembly to “secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools
throughout the state.” The Ohio Department of Education is responsible for the
oversight of public primary and secondary education in the state, although the direct
providers of educational services are the local school districts (as of 1999, there were
612 of them). The Department of Education is governed by a State Board of Education
established in 1956. The Governor appoints some of the members of this Board and the
others are directly elected by the state’s voters. The Board’s responsibilities include the
following:
 Formulating the administrative policies on instruction, teaching materials, buildings,
equipment, transportation of pupils, finance, and school district organization.
 Apportioning state and federal funds to elementary and secondary schools.
 Prescribing minimum school standards.
 Determining the professional requirements for teachers and other educators
employed by school districts.
 Operating the state schools for the blind and the deaf.
 Hearing important issues as a board of review.