Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 19 in June to fix failing math scores in Ohio schools. The new law requires elementary and middle school teachers to prove they can do math before they teach it. This rule targets a massive drop in student performance that happened during the pandemic lockdowns.
The problem is so bad that Ohio State University now has to teach basic math to almost every new student. According to reports. Andrew Brenner, the Daily Signal was informed that pandemic measures triggered a "massive amount of learning loss" He noted that scores "really tanked" during those years of remote learning and masking.
Aaron Churchill from the Thomas B. The Fordham Institute describes the new approach as "a very multifaceted approach to try to tackle the issue" He says it is "common sense" to ensure teachers have "a baseline knowledge of math" before they start. The law makes sure the person at the front of the room actually understands the subject.
This is a moral failure that betrays our kids & it comes right after the Covid school closures that resulted in irreparable learning loss. Now the woman who caused the problem wants a job promotion. Can’t make this stuff up. https://t.co/ERcdsotebV
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 15, 2026
Sen. Brenner explained that schools are wasting money on kids who never learn the basics. He said these students now take out loans and go to college just to get remedial classes. The state is paying for the same lessons twice because the first time failed.
The law sets a hard line for the 2026-27 school year. If 51% or fewer third-graders pass their math tests, the school must create a new plan to fix it. This forces schools to act fast when students start falling behind.
Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, called the learning loss a "moral failure that betrays our kids." He pointed out that the pandemic closures caused "irreparable learning loss" that hurt children for years. Ramaswamy criticized the officials who caused the problem while they now seek higher jobs.
The math scores dropped so low that students in the bottom 25% likely rose to over 30% of the total student body. As Churchill cautioned regarding math, it is "such a sequential topic, where if you get lost, it's hard to get back on track" Once a child misses a step, they often never catch up without help.
Sen. Brenner insists that the right curriculum and trained teachers can fix this for all students. He said improvement should happen regardless of a family's socioeconomic background. The goal is to stop the cycle of failure that starts in the early years.
The law is set to take full effect for the 2026-27 school year. Schools must now check if their teachers have the skills to teach math. If they do not, those teachers cannot lead a classroom in the subject.
State Rep. Brian Stewart celebrated the move as a "commonsense provision" included in the recent budget signed by Gov. DeWine. This law finally holds the system accountable for the results.
Ohio families should watch how schools respond when the 51% threshold hits.