COLUMBUS (WCMH) — The bill is in response to Ohio Governor John Kasich’s budget plan to have teachers shadow a business person in order to maintain their teaching license.

State Reps. Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) announced the new legislation called the “GET REALS Act” today. It would require the governor to complete an annual 40-hour externship in a public elementary or secondary school ranked A-F.

The Governor’s proposal to require teachers to shadow a business person was part of a list of recommendations from the Executive Workforce board. The Governor’s office said the idea would create stronger connections between business and education.

“If Governor Kasich is serious about strengthening our schools and preparing our students to succeed, his public policies should be informed by real world, on-the-ground experience that, quite frankly, he lacks,” said Smith.

Under Smith and Kelly’s bill, the governor’s annual 40-hour on-site work experience in a school would be split into five, eight-hour days, each in a differently ranked public school. The governor could work alongside teachers, food-service staff or custodial staff.

“No one understands the challenges and opportunities our children experience in the classroom better than educators, and this bill would extend that same necessary insight to the governor and his policy proposals,” said Kelly.

If passed, the GET REALS Act would require the governor and his staff to submit an annual report to legislative leaders on “How to Make all Ohio Schools A-Rated Institutions.”

Governor John Kasich’s Press Secretary, Emmalee Kalmbach, released the following statement about the proposal:

While the governor is focused on ensuring that Ohio students are prepared for the rapidly changing workforce of the digital economy, it’s more than disappointing that some look first to play partisan politics. The governor is grateful to business, education and legislative leaders that are part of his executive workforce board for making thoughtful recommendations for the state budget that create stronger connections between business and education such as asking business leaders to engage with teachers as part of their five-year license renewal process.