Intel Corp.
As part of efforts to build the necessary manufacturing workforce, Intel will directly invest $50 million in grants to Ohio higher education institutions over the next 10 years and another $50 million for educational collaboration nationwide, to be matched by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This is part of Intel’s total $20 billion investment for semiconductor factories in Ohio. The Intel “Semiconductor Education and Research Program for Ohio” will fund multi-institutional research and education on semiconductor fabrication. The program will be open to Ohio-based higher education entities and staff including technical centers, academic researchers, faculty, and other educators. It can be used to address curriculum development; faculty training; laboratory equipment upgrades; novel research to advance semiconductor fabrication; and student opportunities including internships.

The $100 million combined national effort will seek proposals from researchers and educators across the U.S. to develop curriculum that improves STEM education at two-year colleges and four-year universities, including minority-serving institutions, and supports novel research on semiconductors. It will also be open to Ohio institutions. This will provide at least $5 million in grants per year for 10 years.

Backpack Bill
The House Finance Committee heard HB290, the "backpack" bill from Reps. Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) and Marilyn John (R-Shelby), which proposes to put into place an education program where state educational dollars will follow the child. McClain said the bill has been in development for a year.
Both sponsors stressed their intent is to put the child at the center of the education puzzle, with their proposal allowing parents to choose the best educational setting for their student. The program would be "opt in," with parents choosing to set up an Educational Savings Account (ESA) under the Ohio Treasurer of State where they would have access to reimbursement of $5,500/year for students in kindergarten through eighth grade or $7,500 for those in grades nine through 12. The funds could be used on a variety of education expenses such as the following:

• Tuition and fees at a participating school.
• Tuition and fees for a nonpublic online learning program.
• Tutoring or intervention services by an individual or educational facility, provided that the services are not provided by an immediate family member of the student.
• Fees for nationally standardized assessments, advanced placement examinations, and any examinations related to college or university admission, as well as tuition or fees for preparatory courses for those.
• Tuition and fees for programs of study or the curriculum of courses that lead to an industry-recognized credential that satisfies a workforce need.
• Educational services including occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language and audiology therapies.
• Curriculum, textbooks, instructional materials and supplies.
• Fees for after-school and summer educational programs.

The fiscal mechanism for operating the program would reside with the state treasurer, who would handle questions on the bill asked why the Legislature would pass this right after having just approved, after four years' work, the six-year Fair School Funding plan and what happens to the child if the private school won't take him or her or sends the child back to the public school for behavioral issues. Democrats mostly oppose the bill and Republicans have varied support on the bill.