Ohio Proposal Could Let State Close Struggling Schools — Here's What It Means for Richland County

A revised federal education waiver Ohio submitted in August 2026 would give the state power to shut down, convert to charters, or hand off management of chronically struggling schools that fail to improve — raising a pointed question for Richland County families: Could it happen here?

The short answer, for now, is no. None of the 43 traditional public schools the state has flagged for its most rigorous interventions are in Richland County. But the proposal's framework puts every district on notice, and local lawmakers have yet to say publicly where they stand on handing Columbus that authority.

How the Intervention System Works

The waiver establishes a two-tier system targeting schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement in 2018 or 2022 that have not improved enough to exit that status, placing them in a category called More Rigorous Interventions, or CSI-MRI.

Schools in the first tier could be required to adopt revised improvement plans, enter partnerships, use state-approved instructional materials and undergo comprehensive academic reviews. Schools that still don't improve face a second, more intensive tier: the state could require leadership replacement, outside management, charter conversion or outright closure.

The proposal emphasizes greater collaboration with local districts but preserves the state's authority to impose those interventions unilaterally. As of August 2026, all 43 CSI-MRI schools are in districts including Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.

Where Richland County Schools Stand

No Richland County school appears on the CSI-MRI list, and the most recent statewide performance data — the 2024–2025 Ohio School Report Cards, released in September 2025 — shows area districts performing in the middle-to-upper range of the state's 1-to-5-star rating system. Report cards for 2025–2026 were not yet publicly available as of August 2026.

Shelby City Schools posted the county's strongest marks, earning a 4.5-star overall rating and a Performance Index of 91.3. Plymouth-Shiloh Local School District and Lucas Local Schools each earned 4 stars. Clear Fork Valley Local Schools received 3.5 stars, and Crestview Local Schools received 3 stars.

The report cards evaluate districts in areas including Performance Index, Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Early Literacy, Graduation, and College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness.

The Legislative Path — and the Pushback

The waiver proposal follows a contested legislative effort. State Sen. Andrew O. Brenner sponsored Senate Bill 127, which addressed closure requirements and other actions for poor-performing public schools. Introduced Feb. 26, 2025, the bill was referred to the Senate Education Committee on March 5, 2025. But significant opposition led the committee to strip the school-closure and charter-conversion provisions in early May 2026, leaving the bill focused primarily on accountability and closure rules for charter schools.

That history matters locally. State Sen. Mark Romanchuk represents Richland County in Ohio Senate District 22 and sits on the very education committee that gutted those provisions. State Rep. Marilyn John represents the county in Ohio House District 76. Neither lawmaker's position on the waiver's school-closure authority has been made public — a gap Richland County residents have reason to press them on as the proposal moves forward.

Other Policy Developments Worth Watching

Two other measures moving through Columbus carry implications beyond education.

Alternatives to guardianship. Senate Bill 35 would formally recognize supported decision-making for adults with developmental disabilities, allowing them to retain legal authority while receiving help from trusted supporters rather than being placed under full guardianship.

Youth group-home oversight. A new legislative study committee held its first meeting Aug. 24, 2026, at the Ohio Statehouse to examine how courts place adjudicated delinquent youth in residential group homes. Created by House Bill 315 in the prior General Assembly, the committee is co-chaired by Rep. Andrea White and responds to concerns about oversight and the concentration of such facilities in areas including Montgomery County. The panel — which includes representatives from state agencies, juvenile courts, children services and law enforcement — must deliver recommendations by year's end on placement processes, resource gaps and community impacts.

The school-closure question, though, is the one closest to home. Richland County schools are not on the state's intervention list today. Whether the waiver gives Columbus the tools to put them there tomorrow — and whether Romanchuk and John would support that authority — remains unanswered.