Welcome to Honesty for Ohio Education's podcast, Voices for Change, a space where we dig into the issues shaping education across the state. With a passion for transparency and a commitment to public understanding, we created this podcast to provide an accessible platform where you can learn about the latest policies, initiatives, and challenges in Ohio’s educational landscape.
Catch new episodes right here or on all major podcast platforms. Each episode will feature candid conversations with educators, advocates, and community leaders, sharing their insights and stories. Whether you’re a student, parent, educator, or concerned community member, tune in to stay informed and engaged in the future of Ohio’s education. Join us in driving change for a better Ohio!
This week the Honesty team sits down with Danielle Firsich, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio's director of public policy, and Jamie Miracle, Abortion Forward's deputy director, to talk about the Success Sequence Curriculum, a bill that is headed to Governor DeWine for a signature.
Please join us in taking action by urging DeWine to VETO SB 276 (https://secure.everyaction.com/VL-cP3uoiUCJM44fpa-E-g2).
5 Jun 2026
Week 4 Recap: Ohio's "Mini Lame-Duck" Session
This past week there was not much movement to note on priority education bills, but it was still a busy week at the statehouse. During this episode we discuss Ohio HB 795, which claims to combat Medicaid "fraud" but in reality would devastate programs that many of our residents rely on, and Senate Joint Resolution 10, a proposal that would enshrine the most restrictive voter ID requirements in the U.S. into the Ohio Constitution.
We are tired of our state leaders spending time, energy, and our hard-earned tax dollars on harmful legislation that does not help any residents or alleviate the impacts of the affordability crisis, and we're sure you are too. These are certainly things we all need to remember when going to the voting booth later this year.
We wrap up the episode with some good news. This week, Honesty for Ohio Education launched the Voucher Accountability Project (https://vouchersarentfree.org/)—a campaign that serves to educate Ohioans about the voucher scam and equip engaged individuals with resources and tools to keep public funds public. We also discuss a good bill. SB 443, which would create accountability and transparency for public dollars spent on private school vouchers.
26 May 2026
Week 2 Recap: Ohio's "Mini Lame-Duck" Session
We are joined by Dr. Lathardus Goggins II with Applied Academic Solutions and Izetta Thomas with the Columbus Education Justice Coalition to dive into two particularly bad bills, Senate Bill 113 and Senate Bill 127.
Both SB 113 and SB 127 had hearings in the Senate Education Committee on May 19th. Thomas and Dr. Goggins discuss what the real impacts would be if these bills were to become law.
We need all hands on deck to stop these bills. Learn how you can take action on SB 113: https://bit.ly/NoDEI-BanOH (https://bit.ly/NoDEI-BanOH)
Learn more about Applied Academic Solutions: https://appliedacademicsolutions.com/ (https://appliedacademicsolutions.com/)
Learn more about the Columbus Education Justice Coalition: https://www.cbusedjustice.org/ (https://www.cbusedjustice.org/)
17 May 2026
Week 1 Recap: Ohio's "Mini Lame-Duck" Session
This week, we’re breaking down a rapid period that we're referring to as a "mini lame-duck session" at the Ohio Statehouse as lawmakers race to advance their bills before leaving the Statehouse for an extended summer break on the campaign trail.
In this episode, we unpack what key education bill moved last week, discuss what bills are on deck for next week, and explore what it all could mean for Ohio’s public schools, students, and communities. We also dig into the results of Ohio’s May primary election and what those outcomes signal leading into the November election.
This is the first in a weekly series tracking legislative action during this stretch of the 136th General Assembly. We’ll be here each week until lawmakers break—then we’ll return after the general election for the full lame-duck session, when even more is on the line.
After recording this episode, we received the agenda for the Senate Education Committee hearing (https://ohiosenate.gov/committees/education/meetings/cmte_s_education_1_2026-05-19-0300_1322) where several controversial bills are scheduled. Two bills we strongly oppose, SB 113 and SB 127, both have hearings. Learn more about SB 113 (https://secure.everyaction.com/cmappbxoRkiTocW3vJ4RLg2) and SB 127 (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V_UMH3B3AFfSJBFuwvejVDA9807LVzzChiMDKb773xA/edit?usp=sharing) and take action!
20 Dec 2024
Final Recap — Ohio Lame Duck Series
Ohio Statehouse reporter Rachel Coyle breaks down the chaotic final stretch of the Lame Duck session, highlighting key bills and advocating for Ohio's future.
13 Dec 2024
Week Five Recap — Ohio Lame Duck Series
Rachel Coyle breaks down the key developments and opportunities for Ohioans to take action during the final week of the Lame Duck Session.
6 Dec 2024
Week Three & Four Recap – Ohio Lame Duck Series
Rachel Coyle joins us to recap the busy week four of Ohio's lame duck session, highlighting key legislation and committee hearings that shaped the state's policy landscape.
22 Nov 2024
Week Two Recap – Ohio Lame Duck Series
Rachel Coyle breaks down the Ohio Lame Duck Series, highlighting key legislation and the latest developments in the House Speaker race.
15 Nov 2024
Week One Recap – Ohio Lame Duck Series
The first week of lame duck was very busy and extremely unfortunate. This week we had Natalie Hastings, an organizer with Honesty for Ohio Education, and Morgan Zickes, Public Policy Manager with Equality Ohio, join us to talk about what happened at the Ohio Statehouse. Our conversation focuses on a bill that wants to bring religious education to the public school day and an anti-trans bathroom bill targeting K-12 schools and higher education.
Want to track legislation during lame duck? Visit Honesty’s Legislation Tracker (https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/legislation-tracker.html).
Equality Ohio Website: https://equalityohio.org/ (https://equalityohio.org/)
Honesty for Ohio Education Website: https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/ (https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/)
8 Nov 2024
Lame Duck 101
Just a few days after the 2024 Presidential election, lame duck session has begun here in Ohio. On this inaugural episode, Voices for Change Host Matina Bliss and Communications Intern Leilani Negrete sit down with lame duck experts Jamie Miracle and Rachel Coyle to discuss the ins and outs of Lame Duck session in Ohio, bills residents should be watching out for this year, and ways Ohioans can get involved and make an impact in the process.
Episode Guests:
Jamie Miracle (she/her), Deputy Director of Abortion Forward
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jaime Miracle started with the organization as a field organizer in June 2004, moved to policy director in 2010, and became Deputy Director in 2015. Prior to working with Abortion Forward, she conducted research into vision development at The OSU College of Optometry and breast cancer prevention at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Jaime has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a focus on Women’s Health Research and Activism from the Western College Program at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Rachel Coyle (she/her) Policy Lead for Honesty for Ohio Education
Rachel Coyle serves as Policy Director at Honesty For Ohio Education. She is also the founder of "State Action Initiative" and Co-Founder of "How Things Work at the Statehouse." Rachel has served as communications director for a governor's race and state Senate race, worked as press secretary for a state party, and held legislative and campaign roles with the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus.
Rachel has extensive nonprofit experience as well. She managed grassroots mobilization at ACLU of Ohio and served as communications director for Innovation Ohio. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in political communication from American University.
Visit our website, www.honestyforohioeducation.org (http://www.honestyforohioeducation.org)
Follow us on socials @honesty4ohioed
4 Nov 2024
Welcome to Voices for Change
Welcome to Honesty for Ohio Education's podcast, Voices for Change, a space where we dig into the issues shaping education across the state. With a passion for transparency and a commitment to public understanding, we created this podcast to provide an accessible platform where you can learn about the latest policies, initiatives, and challenges in Ohio’s educational landscape.
Visit our website: www.honestyforohioeducation.org (https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/)
Intro music by Philip G Anderson (https://www.philipganderson.com/)
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