A provision in Ohio's HB455 shifts testing costs for e-school students—and it matters more than you'd think.
Most Ohio restaurant owners don't realize that a provision buried in HB455—a bill primarily about public schools and the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW)—could affect their bottom line if they operate or lease space to education-related businesses.
Here's what changed: Under the new law, e-school students (those attending internet- or computer-based community schools, which are typically small private operators) can now take state-mandated tests remotely using a remote proctor, rather than in person at a physical testing facility.
Until now, e-schools were required to secure physical testing facilities within 50 miles of each student's home. That meant renting space—often from local businesses, including restaurants with private dining rooms or event spaces. E-schools also paid for travel reimbursements, staffing costs, and facility fees to administer these tests in person.
The new remote testing option eliminates those facility rental needs. Instead of booking your back room or private space for test administration, e-schools will invest in remote proctoring infrastructure—software, monitoring systems, and IT support—rather than physical locations.
If your restaurant currently leases space to an e-school or education vendor for testing purposes, or if you've been approached about it, this change means that revenue stream may dry up. E-schools will have less reason to rent physical space for this purpose going forward.
The provision is codified in Section 3314.25 (Page 222 of HB455) and became effective upon enactment of the bill. The Department of Education and Workforce is required to publish an annual anomaly-detection report by September 15 each year to monitor remote testing outcomes.
The shift from in-person to remote testing is complete—there's no phase-in period. E-schools can begin using remote proctoring immediately.
If you currently have a lease or informal arrangement with an e-school for testing space, contact them directly to understand their timeline for transitioning to remote testing. Don't assume the arrangement will continue.
If you've been considering offering space to education vendors, understand that demand for physical testing facilities from e-schools is now significantly reduced. Your marketing and business planning should reflect this shift.
For restaurant owners in communities with significant e-school populations, this represents a real change in the local education landscape—and a potential loss of supplemental revenue. Being aware of it now gives you time to adjust your planning.
Source: Ohio HB455, Section 3314.25, effective upon enactment.