Columbus Parents, Teachers React to School Closures and Testing Probes

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce opened an investigation this month into spring 2026 state testing anomalies at Independence High School and Walnut Ridge High School, after Columbus City Schools invalidated all scores from those sites.

These steps arrive alongside a district review of four more school closures, fresh contract talks between teachers and the district, and new health and attendance requirements that took effect statewide this week under a law signed by Governor Mike DeWine.

Testing probe and school closure talks hit two east-side campuses

Independence High School and Walnut Ridge High School sit in neighborhoods where families already navigated the December board vote that closed five other buildings. Residents note that any further closures could lengthen bus rides or force students into unfamiliar buildings. The department’s review focuses on how the anomalies occurred and whether the district followed proper procedures before throwing out the results.

Columbus City Schools has not released a timeline for the probe’s conclusion. District officials said they acted quickly once irregularities appeared, yet some parents worry the invalidated scores leave students without usable data for placement or graduation requirements.

Contract talks, funding shifts and virtual options draw family attention

Teachers returned to the bargaining table with Columbus City Schools after the union ratified a two-year re-opener package covering the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years. The agreement addresses scheduling and compensation, issues that directly shape classroom conditions for families across the district.

At the same time, Ohio’s public schools began applying new health and attendance rules tied to the recently signed law. Governor DeWine’s $60 billion state budget also rewrote school funding formulas, leaving the 2021 fair funding plan unfinished. Community members point out that these changes arrive just as enrollment opens for the 2026-2027 school year at two tuition-free virtual public schools powered by K12: the Ohio Digital Learning School for grades 9-12 and the Ohio Virtual Academy for grades K-12.

Families weighing options can review program details at the schools’ enrollment sites or contact Columbus City Schools for information on the ongoing closure study. The district has not set a date for a final vote on the four additional buildings under review.