Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools Superintendent Dawn Wallace testified before the Ohio House Higher Education Committee last week in support of House Bill 62, which proposes changes to the state’s College Credit Plus (CCP) program.
The bill, sponsored by Representatives Justin Pizzulli and Adam Bird, aims to lower the costs associated with CCP courses, particularly textbooks, by encouraging the use of free, open-source materials whenever possible. It also seeks to shift financial responsibility for course materials by requiring colleges to absorb costs when free options are ignored, or to split the cost with school districts when no free alternatives are available.
Wallace, speaking on behalf of both her district and the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools, expressed support for the bill’s provisions. She highlighted how CCP participation has grown in Adams County and how rising associated costs have impacted the school system. During the 2023–2024 school year, students in Adams County earned over 3,000 college credit hours, with more than half of those completed online. Wallace noted that online courses often come with lower staffing demands for colleges and rely heavily on the district’s own technology infrastructure. Despite this, the cost to the school system remains high.
Wallace told lawmakers that under the current structure, her district spent over $61,000 on CCP textbooks last year alone. House Bill 62, she said, could potentially cut that expense in half or more due to the prioritization of open-source materials. She also raised a concern about the growing popularity of online CCP courses drawing students away from the high school campus. This trend, Wallace said, has created a noticeable absence of older student leaders, affecting school culture and removing valuable role models for younger students.
While some education leaders have raised concerns about potential cost shifts to school districts, Wallace’s testimony illustrated how rural schools like Adams County could benefit financially and academically from the proposed legislation. House Bill 62 remains under review in the House, where additional testimony and possible amendments are expected in the coming weeks.
