June 29, 2009

Good morning,

Tick-tock goes the budget clock. The Conference Committee was scheduled to meet on Saturday and Sunday and both sessions were canceled. There is another session scheduled for 7 p.m. today. Should a continuing budget resolution be passed, we will let you know ASAP as to how this will impact any scheduled payments, if at all. A continuing budget resolution is a short-term measure that allows state operations to continue and affords the legislature additional time to work through the budget.

We need to remain steady and focused although I am well aware that angst is growing. As I have mentioned on several occasions, I will be in touch as soon as we have any details and will then follow-up with specifics once we are able to analyze the final budget appropriations. STAY TUNED!

One thing we do know is that ODE and all other state agencies will experience cuts as the state’s financial situation is not recovering from the economic downturn. In addition to potential staffing and fiscal implications for ODE, we will also be looking at how the new budget impacts education in Ohio. We will also identify which, if any, of Governor Strickland’s education reform components are included in the final version of the bill. We will work on developing a timeline for reform measures included in the budget bill and will share that with you as soon as possible.

Celebrating Successes
I know these are uncertain times for us all, but even with all the uncertainty surrounding us, our schools continue to excel and to remain focused on how they can enhance their programs and services to their students. One example to highlight are the 13 Ohio middle and high schools that will be recognized during the annual High Schools that Work conference. Ohio has more schools being recognized than any other state. These 13 schools are part of the 141 high schools and 90 middle schools that participated in the HSTW and Making Middle Grades Work school improvement initiative. For more information about HSTW and for a list of the 13 award recipients, click here and search keywords: High Schools that Work.

In addition to these schools, Butler Technology and Career Development Schools will be recognized as a National School of Distinction by the International Center for Leadership in Education at the Model Schools Conference. Butler Tech and 10 other Ohio schools participate in the Center’s Successful Practices Network.

ODE also was notified last week that we were selected to participate in the Technical Assistance Academy conducted by the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education. These federal programs support the development of innovative curriculum. ODE was selected to be part of developing “green focused” curriculum. Ohio schools have long been innovators, and participation in this program will allow us to continue to be on the forefront of creative education programs, which help our students develop skills necessary for the jobs of the future. Many leaders, including President Obama, have lauded green energy as a critical component to securing and stabilizing our nation.

During these moments of extreme challenge, it is great to be able to share such celebratory news. There are many success stories in education in our state. I know that the ones cited above are only the tip of the iceberg. Please continue to share your many accomplishments. I am extremely proud to be working with all of you and I want to thank you for your continued commitment to Ohio’s children.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer. It’s hard to believe that it will be July in just a couple of days.  I wish you a safe and memory-making July 4th!

Sincerely,

Here are other items that may be of interest to you:

• SES Provider applications available; waiver guidelines forthcoming
• ODE releases videos defining quality middle-grade education
• Updates made to ODE stimulus web page

SES Provider applications available; waiver guidelines forthcoming
On April 1, 2009, Secretary Duncan sent a letter to Chief State School Officers regarding the Title I regulations that were issued by former Secretary Spellings in October 2008. In this letter, Secretary Duncan explained that he intends to propose and invite public comment on a potential repeal of the provisions that prevent a state from approving as a provider of supplemental educational services (SES) a local educational agency (LEA) identified for improvement or corrective action or a school identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring (34 C.F.R. § 200.47(b)(1)(iv)(A), (B)). Secretary Duncan further stated that, because it will take time to go through the rulemaking process for this proposed change, he will consider granting waivers of these regulatory provisions for the 2009–2010 school year. ODE has prepared this document explaining the process for submitting an application for the 2009–2010 school year.

ODE releases videos defining quality middle-grade education
Five new online video programs focus on the students, staff, programs and community of high-performing middle-grade schools. The videos highlight several of the 17 middle schools currently designated as Ohio Schools to Watch (OSTW) The videos debuted last week at the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform’s annual conference in Virginia. OSTW is a collaborative effort among ODE, the Ohio Middle Level Association, Ohio Federation of Teachers and Otterbein College.

The videos were made possible by a grant from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. A 10-minute overview video includes a self-study rubric that middle-grade schools can use to assess both their areas of strength and areas for improvement as they apply for the designation as an Ohio School to Watch. Four shorter videos each emphasize one of the main criteria for OSTW designation. 

To view the videos or to find out more about applying to become an Ohio School to Watch, click here and search keywords: OSTW. The deadline to apply to become an OSTW is Oct. 16.

Updates made to ODE stimulus web page
ODE has made enhancements to the Stimulus Web page to increase the user-friendliness of the page. Several suggestions and comments from users in the field were taken into consideration as these enhancements were made. Some of the changes include:

• More detailed information about each of the fund areas is available through links on the left-hand side of the page;
• Updated categorization of information; and
• Information about grants related to education, but not administered by ODE is now available.

Note: You also may find this document online at http://education.ohio.gov by searching keywords: EdConnection. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this weekly e-mail, please feel free to contact me at superintendent@ode.state.oh.us.

Special Update, Monday, June 29, 2009, 10:50 am

Senate To Pass Seven-Day Interim Budget Monday

The Senate is expected Monday approve a seven-day interim budget that funds state government operations into the new fiscal year.

The interim spending plan - to be adopted as an amendment to the Industrial Commission’s budget (HB 16) – will fund programs at 70% of actual fiscal year 2009 spending, the Senate Republican Caucus said.

Debt service will be fully funded, and the plan will also authorize Gov. Ted Strickland to use money in the rainy day fund, the majority said.

The development comes as the GOP-controlled Senate maintained its opposition to the installation of slot machines at Ohio’s horse tracks without a vote of the people. Instead, the chamber’s majority has argued that Gov. Ted Strickland, who proposed VLTs as a new revenue source, should authorize the expansion himself.

Mr. Strickland said late Sunday that Senate Republicans have refused to support his balanced budget framework.

“We have heard the objections, but unfortunately still no solutions,” Mr. Strickland said. “I believe that the Senate Majority understands the gravity of the situation before them. I continue to wait for them to say what taxes they would increase or what services they would further reduce to address the budget gap.”

The administration also released a letter from racing industry leaders indicating that the lack of statute authorizing VLTs will “severely hamper, and, indeed, may prevent the financial ability to commence the lottery commissions conduct of lotteries through the use of electronic lottery devices.”

Conference committee deliberations on the budget were scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, but both meetings were canceled. The conference panel is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday.

More details in today’s Gongwer News Service Ohio Report.

**Ohio Places in Top Performance Category for IDEA**

We are pleased to share good news with you as we recently learned that Ohio has been ranked in the top category for meeting the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) Part B.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) named Ohio as one of 30 U.S.
states and territories that placed in the highest of four performance categories for fully meeting IDEA requirements. A letter from the USDOE Office of Special Education Programs noted our state improved on several of the State Performance Plan 20 targets.

The areas in which the USDOE commended Ohio include our work in conducting timely evaluations of students suspected of having learning disabilities; helping young children with disabilities transition from the Help Me Grow program to preschool special education; developing transition plans for students with disabilities that are ages 16 and above; completing corrective activities in response to complaints; and monitoring district compliance with mandates for meeting students'
education needs.

It certainly takes the hard work of many people, from the state level to individual teachers to ensure our students with disabilities are receiving the support and services they need. We truly appreciate all of the hard work that has led to Ohio making significant strides in improving the quality of education for students with disabilities and for providing incredible focus in this important area!

**Medicaid in Schools Program (MSP) Update**

ODE, in partnership with ODJFS, recently completed a series of videoconferences on the Medicaid in Schools Program (MSP). During the MSP conferences, questions were raised about putting service provider names and their role on the IEP. To clarify, the name and title of the practitioner who assesses the child needs to appear on the ETR. Only the title of the practitioner who will provide services needs to be provided on the IEP. The name of the provider does not need to be included on the IEP.

In the near future, a Q&A document that contains questions ODE received from the MSP trainings will be posted on the ODE MSP Web page. For additional information on the MSP, go to www.education.ohio.gov <http://www.education.ohio.gov/> , keyword search MSP.

**ARRA/Stimulus for IDEA Part B**

ODE has received numerous calls and emails requesting clarification and assistance related to the ARRA/Stimulus Funds. ODE has created several ways to assist districts in understanding how ARRA funds can be used. Staff from the Department have held information sessions and presentations at ESCs around the state to provide assistance and information. The ODE Stimulus Web page at www.education.ohio.gov <http://www.education.ohio.gov/> , keyword search ODE Stimulus Updates, has frequently asked questions, guidance on permissible use of funds, reporting requirements, allocation information and more. If you have additional questions related to ARRA/Stimulus Funds for IDEA Part B, contact the Office for Exceptional Children Resource Management Section at (614) 466-2650.

**Guidance Document and IEP, ETR and SP Annotations Update**

The Ohio Department of Education/Office for Exceptional Children
(ODE/OEC) has reviewed and updated the Procedures and Guidance for Ohio Educational Agencies Serving Children with Disabilities (the Guidance Document) to ensure that the document reflects current policies. Updates to the Guidance Document will be posted to www.EdResourcesOhio.org on or before Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Updates and changes to the document will appear in blue. A listing of the updates is available in the notice preceding the Table of Contents in the Guidance Document.
The Prior Written Notice Chart has also been revised to reflect the updates in the Guidance Document.

The IEP and ETR form have not been changed since May 2009 and will not change during the coming 2009-2010 school year. The IEP, ETR and Services Plan annotations have been updated to reflect current policies. The changes to the annotations will be posted to www.EdResourcesOhio.org on or before July 1, 2009. Updates to the annotations will appear in bold text that has been underlined.

ODE/OEC has created a Questions and Answers (Q&A) document that will be posted to www.EdResourcesOhio.org on or before July 1, 2009. This document is a compilation of all questions that have been sent to ODE/OEC concerning the IEP, ETR and Services Plan forms. All questions have been answered by ODE/OEC staff.

ODE/OEC will continue to review and update the Guidance Document, Annotations of the IEP, ETR and Services Plan and Q&A document on a quarterly basis to ensure they reflect current policies and practices.
Each time the guidance document is updated, the date on the document will change.

We hope you find the Guidance Document and resources contained within the http://www.EdResourcesOhio.org  Web site to be a useful tools.

**Progressive Sanctions Policy**

As you know, ODE is required to ensure that all children, including students with disabilities and students identified as gifted, achieve positive educational outcomes. Through varied support services and monitoring processes in its general supervision system, ODE's Office for Exceptional Children (OEC) helps districts meet their federal and state requirements to ensure that exceptional children will develop the skills and competencies to succeed academically, find employment and live independently.

OEC has established a Progressive Sanctions Policy for school districts that are not in compliance with state and/or federal requirements regarding the education of exceptional children. If an LEA is found to be noncompliant, a corrective action plan must be defined and implemented. However, if the district does not submit acceptable documentation of its timely implementation of corrective action plans, the Department may apply progressive sanctions that could result in the withholding of funds and a public hearing.
Districts are urged to take the necessary steps to attain compliance and avoid sanctions, such as the withholding of IDEA Part B funds, gifted funds or state special education funds.

All districts may request support from OEC or their State Support Team to help them meet the targets set by Ohio's State Performance Plan for educating exceptional children. By providing personal consultation, professional development and technical assistance, our goal is to meet and exceed the law's requirements for serving these students.

To learn more about the OEC progressive sanctions policy, search keywords progressive sanctions at http://www.ode.state.oh.us . To contact OEC for support, please call (614) 466-2650.

**7th Partnering for Progress Conference**

******SAVE THE DATE ****Saturday, October 3, 2009**

OCECD is partnering with the Ohio Department of Education again this year to provide the "7th Partnering for Progress: What Parents and Practitioners Need to Know About Special Education Advocacy"
conference in Columbus, Ohio. The featured speaker is Matt Cohen, attorney and author of A Guide to Special Education Advocacy: What Parents, Clinicians and Advocates Need to Know.

This one-day event will offer informative sessions for parents of children with disabilities and professionals who serve them. A non-refundable $10.00 fee will cover lunch and materials. Scholarships are available.

Registration will open online July 6, 2009 at www.ocecd.org. For more information contact Connie Hudson, OCECD Conference Coordinator, at 1-937-842-2150 or email her at ocecdcsh@embarqmail.com.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING IEP/ETR TRAINING OPPORTUNITY AND CLARIFICATION ON ETR PLANNING FORM.......

SST 13 will be providing two additional trainings on "Rolling Out New IEP and ETR Forms".  See the attached flyer for details along with a map to CRES.  THESE TRAININGS ARE A REPEAT OF THE SESSIONS WE OFFERED IN THE SPRING. Please distribute this information to any new staff members or other colleagues you think would be interested.

A clarification on the ETR Planning Form has been received.  The preschool or school-age form is a required form and is to be used to document evaluation planning for any evaluation.  A face-to-face meeting is not required but the signed evidence of the planning on the form is required.

Sent for:
Susan Burns, Educational Consultant SST 13 Sent by:
Terri Densford, Support Staff
Hamilton County Center for Regional Education Services/SST Region 13
1301 Bonnell Ave., Cincinnati, OH  45215
513-674-4278
terri.densford@hcesc.org

HIGH PRIORITY 

American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) Act Stimulus Funds

Community schools can apply for ARRA funds, but this is time-sensitive. You must apply through CCIP now.

• Schools should access their CCIP application for 2010 and, along with the CONSOLIDATED application, a new application, ARRA will be shown.
• The proposed allocations for both the CCIP and ARRA applications are listed now.
• The process and date timeline is similar to that for the CCIP.
• There is a separate budget and application for the CCIP.

Below are some links that give detailed information about the money, as well as some documentation that might be helpful.

• Office of Federal Programs CCIP Consolidated and CCIP ARRA Frequently Asked Questions
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Using ARRA Funds to Drive School Reform and Improvement
• CCIP Note # 177
• CCIP Note # 178

Document Library

Select the FINANCIAL INFORMATION section for documents on ARRA.                                                                                                                                 

The section on NOTES and MONTHLY reminders is helpful as well.

There will be additional audit requirements for recipients of ARRA funds.  State Auditor Taylor outlines details on their website: http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/

ra

Ron F. Adler
President
Ohio Coalition for Quality Education
Phone: 937.239.7969
Email:  radler@ocqe.org
Website: www.ocqe.org

For Immediate Release

Attached is our commentary piece, ‘Ohio Senate Refuses to Leave 88,000 Children Behind’. 

Ron F. Adler
President
Ohio Coalition for Quality Education
Phone: 937.239.7969
Email:  radler@ocqe.org
Website: www.ocqe.org

Come to our new & exciting event!!
Young Leaders of Northern Cincinnati
Please pass this on to the young professionals at your company.
Help our future leaders develop a network of their peers by
joining us for our Young Leaders meet & greet!!

When: Wednesday, June 24th from 5-7pm
Where: Apsara
4785 Lake Forest Drive
Blue Ash, OH  45242
(513) 554-1040
Directions:  http://www.apsaraasiancuisine.com/direction/

Bring a business card for a chance for a
raffle prize at the end of the night.

Questions?  Contact the Sharonville Chamber Office
4015 Executive Park Drive, Suite 302
Sharonville, OH 45241
513-554-1722
info@sharonvillechamber.com
www.sharonvillechamber.com

Stanford University CREDO Study

You may have already read the attached OCQE MEDIA RELEASE send today commenting on the Stanford University CREDO study about charter schools.  Below is an OCQE comment reported in the Gongwer News Service coverage.  (See below)

ra

Ron F. Adler
President
Ohio Coalition for Quality Education
Email:  radler@ocqe.org
Website: www.ocqe.org

Gongwer News Service, June 15, 2009
Charter Schools: A study released Monday found academic performance in charter schools varied widely among 15 states, but charter students generally fell short of their peers in traditional public schools.
The academic success of charter school students was affected by individual state policies, said the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University study. States with caps on the number of charter schools reported significantly lower academic performance, and those with multiple authorizers showed poorer results than states with fewer authorizers in place.
"The charter school movement continues to work hard to remove barriers to charter school entry into the market, making notable strides to level the playing field and improve access to facilities funding, but now it needs to equally focus on removing the barriers to exit, which means closing underperforming schools," CREDO director Margaret Raymond said in a statement.
"If the charter school movement is to flourish, a deliberate and sustained effort to increase the proportion of high quality schools is essential. The replication of successful charter school models is one important element of this effort," she said. "On the other side of the equation, however, authorizers, charter school advocates and policymakers must be willing and able to fulfill their end of the original charter school bargain, which is accountability in exchange for flexibility."
Ron Adler, president of the Ohio Coalition for Quality Education, said the findings back up the group's proposal to lift caps on new charter schools and create sponsor report cards and "risk-based" fiscal assessments.
"Current law is sufficient with regards to closing community schools who fail to improve academically," he said. "Our recommendations focus on improving the accountability and transparency of the system and providing tools that allow closer monitoring of schools' fiscal condition."

Dear Sponsors:

Please note the items available for auction on Saturday, June 13 at 10am.  Location is at 3001 Hill Avenue in Toledo.

Attached is the list of Inventory for our June 13th, 10:00 am auction sale.
Located at 3001 Hill Toledo OH  43607

Thank You
James Danner
Superintendent
Toledo Academy of Learning
419-536-0253

June 8, 2009

Good morning, 

It was a glorious weekend here in Columbus. The end of the school year has occurred for almost every Ohio school district. By now, you are probably quite busy with finalizing staffing and budget for next year and you may even be getting ready to have your annual end-of-the-year administrative retreat. No matter your level of activity, be kind to yourself and think of the upcoming year as another challenge that holds much promise.

 I hope you had the opportunity to join in the celebration of your seniors during commencement ceremonies. Last Friday, I had the esteemed pleasure of speaking at the graduation for students of the Ohio School for the Deaf and presenting students with their diplomas at the Ohio State School for the Blind. It was a true honor to meet these students and their families and celebrate their dedication and commitment. I was so impressed with the hurdles the students from the OSSB and the OSD had overcome to reach the graduation milestone. It rekindled many of the emotions I experienced as a district superintendent on graduation day.

As you are aware, the Ohio Senate passed its version of House Bill 1, the biennium budget, last week. The House is expected to take the Senate changes under consideration this week, and then the bill will move to Conference Committee. Please check the ODE budget information page for updates as this process continues. I will also keep you informed throughout June, as this month will see much activity and hopefully a resolution to the budget. The uncertainty is difficult for everyone and I share your angst!

Rumor Control
I want to squash a rumor that has been circulating around the state during the past month. I just became aware of it during the past two weeks. Let me assure you that I am not canceling the Ohio Improvement Process (OIP). I knew something was amiss when I received almost 20 letters within a one-week period highlighting the strengths of the program and encouraging me to not do away with the process or reduce the funding for it.

Those of you who wrote the letters highlighted components of the OIP that significantly assisted their respective districts. While I appreciate receiving information about various state initiatives and their impact on local districts’ work, it is disconcerting when misinformation is shared with districts that results in uncertainty. If someone from ODE or from the SSTs shared such information with you, shame on them for causing undue stress or misrepresenting my support of the OIP. While many of you have asked for various considerations with the OIP and we continue to struggle with funding (especially with federal requirements around uses of some funds), I know from your testimonies that the OIP has proven to be a valuable tool in assisting districts with developing teams to review and act upon appropriate uses of data.  

Please know that whenever any dramatic changes are made at ODE, I will definitely inform you through my weekly updates. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me should you hear something that does not seem to be reasonable or seems questionable.

ARRA update
In addition to the state budget, activity surrounding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is picking up as well. On June 1, Gov. Strickland submitted the state’s application to the federal government for State Fiscal Stabilization Funds. LEAs must submit applications for their portion of SFSF by this Friday, June 12.

Last week, ODE notified superintendents and treasures that the applications were available through your SAFE accounts. Since then, we have learned that some of you might have experienced difficulty reading the entire application in your SAFE account. A PDF of the application, as well as a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, are available in the “New Items” section of ODE’s stimulus information page. Please use these documents as a reference when completing your application online. The PDF application is for reference only. Please, do not print, fill out and mail the PDF application.

RFP available for visits by Superintendent
As Superintendent of Public Instruction, one of my favorite duties is visiting schools and observing first-hand the wonderful programs our schools are offering their students.

I have received many invitations to visit schools across the state. While I would love to be able to visit every school, it would simply be impossible to do so and fulfill my other commitments.

In an effort to connect with as many students, teachers and administrators as possible, and witness the diversity of our schools, I am in the process of scheduling a series of visits to districts, career-technical centers and colleges of education across the state. I also will use these visits as opportunities to engage in discussions about the many ways we can work together to ensure a quality, world-class education for all students.

If you are interested in arranging a visit to your district, select school building or campus, during the 2009-2010 school year, please submit a Request for Proposal to my office by Friday, July 10. Visits also may be used to host a regional forum to discuss statewide education issues that are of particular interest to your local community. The form is available by clicking here and viewing the Superintendent Visit Proposal. You will be notified whether or not your site has been selected by Friday, Aug, 7, 2009.

State Board June meeting

Today the State Board of Education is holding its monthly meeting at the Ohio School for the Deaf. During the business meeting this afternoon, the State Board will be holding a special election for a new president. As you may recall, current President Jennifer Sheets, an at-large member from Pomeroy, announced her resignation at the May meeting. We owe a great debt of gratitude to President Sheets for her commitment to Ohio’s education system in her 14 years on the State Board.

In addition to electing a new president, the State Board this month is scheduled to adopt content standards for physical education. These content standards are an important step in ensuring our students learn the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle.

I will share more with you about the new State Board president and the physical education content standards in my weekly message next week.

Tomorrow, June 9, Education Week will be releasing the Diplomas Count 2009 report. This year, the report focuses on college readiness. Unfortunately, it is currently under strict embargo. Once made public, I will highlight portions of the report with you.

ODE will be posting the March 2009 OGT results on Friday, June 12. District-by-district breakdowns of the number of students scoring at each performance level will be available at this time. The Office of Assessment also generates a statewide summary of results. You can access the results by clicking here and searching keywords: OGT Assessment Results. I thought I would make you aware of these two items so you can begin to prepare for possible media inquiries.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Here are several items that may be of interest to you:

• Mark your calendars: ARRA deadlines and dates to remember

• Districts reminded to review Physical Education Graduation Requirements

• List of required training compiled

Mark your calendars: ARRA deadlines and dates to remember

• June 12, 2009 – LEA State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) applications aredue June 12. If you feel that you cannot meet this deadline, please e-mail Barbara.Mattei-Smith@ode.state.oh.us 

• June 15, 2009 – The National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant Award announcements will be made sometime the week of June 15.
• June 2009 – ARRA and regular federal FY10 grant allocations will be available in the CCIP for review and application purposes by LEAs.

Districts reminded to review Physical Education Graduation Requirements
ODE has a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the Ohio Core Physical Education Graduation Requirements on its Web site at www.education.ohio.gov, keyword search: Physical Education.

Find answers to the following questions:

• Can boards of education adopt policies to exempt students from Physical Education?
• If a student participates in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading before his or her district adopts the waiver policy, can those activities be applied?
• How much Physical Education is required?
• For Physical Education, may other activities (show choirs, ROTC, non-school-sponsored athletics, etc.) which involve physical activity on the part of students be counted toward the two semesters of Physical Education?
• Are there any other requirements students must meet beyond the two full seasons of participation in interscholastic athletics, marching band or cheerleading?
• For Physical Education, what is the impact of being “cut” or quitting?
• Can a district policy require more than the two seasons of participation in order to excuse the one-half unit of Physical Education required for graduation?
• If a student participates in only one full season of an approved activity, can the student be excused from .25 units of Physical Education and thus have to take only .25 units of Physical Education to complete his or her Physical Education requirement under the Ohio Core?
• Can a local board of education add more requirements to its physical education waiver policy?

For more information, contact Lisa Lyle Henry, Physical Education Consultant, at lisa.henry@ode.state.oh.us.
List of required training compiled
During the last Buckeye Association of School Administrators Legislative Committee Meeting, a request was made for ODE to compile a list of required training that local school districts must provide to their staff. In response to this request, ODE had put together the following list, which has been divided into two categories: required training and non-required training. Required training must be given to staff by the district. Non-required training must be completed by staff members, but are not required to be given by the district.

Required Training
Child Abuse Prevention (ORC 3319.073) – The board of education of each city and exempted village school district and the governing board of each educational service center shall develop, in consultation with public or private agencies or persons involved in child abuse prevention or intervention programs, a program of in-service training for persons employed by any school district or service center to work in an elementary school as a nurse, teacher, counselor, school psychologist, or administrator.
ODE policy and resources regarding child abuse prevention

Discrimination and Harassment (ORC 3313.666(C)) – A district must incorporate information about its “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” policy into employee training materials.

School Safety Drills (ORC 3737.73) – The principal or person in charge of each public or private school or educational institution shall hold annual training sessions for employees of the school or institution regarding the conduct of school safety drills.

Jarod’s Law Training (OAC 3701-54-09) - Each school building administrator shall have available upon inspection, administrative rules or protocols regarding the following topics: Dangerous or recalled products, radon testing, asbestos, school-wide safety or crisis management, blood borne pathogens, medications, chemical hygiene, material safety, hand washing, non-smoking, pest management, flushing protocol.
Links:
OAC 3701-54-09
ORC 4167.25 and 4167.28
OSHA information

Additional Training Required (District not required to provide)
Heimlich Maneuver Training (ORC 3313.815) - At least one employee who has received instruction in methods to prevent choking and has demonstrated an ability to perform the Heimlich maneuver must be present while students are being served food.
ODE guidelines regarding the Heimlich Maneuver

Qualifications to direct, supervise or coach a pupil activity program (OAC 3301-27-01) - Under this law, a school district may hire a “Non-Licensed Individual” (NLI) to direct, coach or otherwise administer a department or program that involves music, language, arts, speech, government, athletics and any others directly related to the curriculum. The NLI, however, must have completed sufficient training as described in Ohio Administrative Law 3301-27-01. 
ODE rule regarding the pupil activity supervisor permit

Note: You also may find this document online at http://education.ohio.gov by searching keywords: EdConnection. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this weekly e-mail, please feel free to contact me at superintendent@ode.state.oh.us.

Mark your calendar!!!

The Ohio Department of Education, Office of School Finance will be hosting a “School Finance Community School Workshop” for community schools and sponsors. Workshop topics include: Assurances, FTE Reviews, Career Tech, Special Ed, EMIS, Transportation, FLICs, Residency challenges/rights, SOES (flags, truancy, etc.), Stimulus Funds, and Closing procedures. This one day workshop will be offered on July 7, July 10, and August 6. Please register through STARS by using your SAFE account, https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal/. If you do not have a SAFE account, click the following link https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal/signup/. Once you sign-in, click event search then type “SOES” for the event name.

For questions regarding workshop content contact Karla Manter at Karla.manter@ode.state.oh.us. For questions regarding STARS registration contact me at LeeAuna.taylor@ode.state.oh.us.

Thank you.

Mentoring In Bloom
Cultivate | Expand | Succeed

National School-Based
Mentoring Conference - 4th Edition
When: June 16-18, 2009
Where: Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Marriott Downtown
200 West 12th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

Time is Running Out!

Time is running out to register for the 4th Edition of the National School-Based Mentoring Conference! Register now and you won't miss out on all the excitement. We've lined up some amazing speakers and workshops, plus we've extended the Early Bird Deadline for the entire conference - a savings of $100 for all registrants! The only national conference that's all about mentoring in schools, this is the place to be this June.

Take advantage of this great offer today. Visit the conference website to register at www.askusa.com/youthfriends.

Then clear your calendar, pack your bags and join us in Kansas City - June 16-18, where all things mentoring will be in fantastic bloom.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Please find attached the Task Force/PPD Meeting dates for the 2009/2010 school year.

Attached is the summary of topic discussions from the All County Task Force
Meeting on May 21. This summary is also posted on the Regional Task
Force/Pupil Personnel Director Meeting web page at
http://kb.hcesc.org/sites/taskforce/default.aspx

Mental Illness in Children

Lansing, MI   October 28, 2009

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
"Mental Illness in Children"
Christopher Okiishi, M.D.

Hotel Directions

Printer-friendly conference information and registration

More Autism Conferences

Questions?
Spectrum Training Systems, Inc.
2024 Jonathon Drive>
Appleton, WI  54914
Phone: (920) 749-0332
Fax: (920) 882-0736
spectrumtrainingsystems@yahoo.com

The new issue of "...what's for lunch?" is now available at the link here.

This Month's Headlines Include:

-Marketing Reimbursable Meals is Key to Increasing Student School Lunch Revenues

-Equipment Assistance Grants: Did You Second-Guess Yourself Out of the Game?

-IdentiSys Inc. Announces Food Drive to Celebrate 10 Year Anniversary Serving the ID Systems Market

-President's FY 2010 Budget for FDA Invests Substantially in Food and Medical Product Safety

-Checkout the New FoodServe.com!!!

At FSS, we strive to make each issue of the “…what’s for lunch?” e-newsletter as enjoyable as it is informative. We’d love to hear your feedback/reaction to this month’s editorial content. If you have any suggestions for articles that you’d be interesting in reading about in future issues, we’d love to hear that as well.

Please send your suggestions and comments to: lercanbrack@foodserve.com.

THE OHIO EDUCATION GADFLY: News Bulletin

A Special News Update from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Volume 3, Number 16. June 2, 2009

Gadfly On the Web

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the first in a series of education news bulletins that the Ohio Education Gadfly team will produce periodically to keep our readers posted on all that's going on in education policy.

Dems push their school ideas, saying Senate proposals unacceptable

Ohio Senate Democrats today said Republicans want to step backward in education, that Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio House have identified what needs to be done in schools and how to do it, that the evidence is clear on the issues, and that more money for education -- when the economy revives -- will be there, too.

Standing before a "count up" clock depicting the time since the first DeRolph Supreme Court decision in 1997 found the state's school-funding system unconstitutional (it's been 12 years and two months), they said Democrat plans are vital to push Ohio education in this new century. A Republican proposal to study education needs is not necessary.

"We can have one report after another. They add up to a mountain of paper," said Sen. Tom Sawyer (D-Akron), who added the evidence for the Democratic program is clear. Republicans have attacked the governor's so-called "evidence-based" education plans as unreal.

But Democrats said it's Republican opposition to their proposals that is not realistic. "The real tragedy we face, if we simply return to that which is comfortable, is the tragedy of aiming too low," Sawyer said.

Republicans in the Senate, fearing recession-wracked Ohio does not have enough money to pay for state needs, including those in education, have thrown out the House-passed Democrat plans. The House budget passed shortly before the administration announced that, due to lagging state tax revenues, the current state budget has a shortfall of nearly $1 billion.

Republicans have called for more study of education. In their own bill, they have called for what amounts to a continuation of current education policies, although they have promised that school funds will not be reduced in the new budget cycle.

State Sen. Dale Miller (D-Cleveland) said Democrat ideas will be hashed out in conference committee and he clearly expects some Democrat ideas to be accepted. "We're willing to work with them on an issue that is important," he said, adding "the GOP status quo is simply not acceptable."

The Republican proposal would deliver $82 million less to schools over the next two fiscal years, he said, than the GOP claims.

He called Republican funding proposals a "starving the beast" approach to state government. "This doesn't work anymore," Miller said.

Sawyer and Miller attacked the way charter schools are funded and said money for schools should not be deducted from school-district state funds but should be treated separately. They also called for the creation of a school-funding research and advisory council (as called for in the House version of the bill) to help study and recommend future, long-term changes to state education.

Miller plans to offer an amendment to the Senate legislation to reinstitute the House-passed Democrat proposals.

Charter schools, as a group, he said are not performing well, especially when compared with charters in other states. "More than half of Ohio charters are in academic watch or academic emergency," he said. Miller called for stricter accountability for charters.

However, he said he wanted to avoid conflict between district schools and charters. "The last thing we want is a debate that pits regular schools against charter schools," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) said fundamental education reform is needed to educate Ohioans for the 21st century, particularly to boost the number of college-educated residents.

She also said the Democrat plan would reduce reliance on local property taxes. Cafaro said the large number of school-tax levies turned down by voters is an indication of voter fatigue and anger at property taxes, although reporters questioned her logic.

Democrats seem to offer a carrot-and-stick approach to school improvement -- a carrot for public district schools and a stick for charters. "Good charters should be funded," Sawyer said. "Those not performing well should be systematically removed from the funding stream."

When asked why chronically poor public district schools should be tolerated and whether they should be closed, Miller, declined to comment, although he later said, an "escalating series of actions" might be taken to push district schools to improve.

When asked what it told him that seven percent more Ohio public school students are expected to enroll in charter schools this autumn, Miller said "It means we still have too many school districts not working well enough."

by Mike Lafferty

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Us

The Ohio Education Gadfly is published bi-weekly (ordinarily on Wednesdays, with occasional breaks, and in special editions) by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Have something to say? Email the editor at mlafferty@edexcellence.net. Would you like to be spared from the Gadfly? Email education.buzz@edexcellence.net with "unsubscribe gadfly" in the subject of your message. You are welcome to forward the Gadfly to others, and from our website you can even email individual articles. If you have been forwarded a copy of Gadfly and would like to subscribe, you may email education.buzz@edexcellence.net with "subscribe gadfly" in the subject of the message. To read archived issues, go to our website and click on the Ohio Education Gadfly link. Aching for still more education news and analysis? Check out the original Education Gadfly.

Nationally and in Ohio, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, along with its sister organization the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, strives to close America's vexing achievement gaps by raising standards, strengthening accountability, and expanding high-quality education options for parents and families. As a charter-school sponsor in Ohio, the Foundation joins with schools to affirm a relentless commitment to high expectations for all children, accountability for academic results, and transparency and organizational integrity, while freeing the schools to operate with minimal red tape. The Foundation and Institute are neither connected with nor sponsored by Fordham University.

Register Now!

After several years of planning, Spectrum Training is delighted to announce that our two day Autism Career Planning conferences are now ready. After much dialogue with career planners, transition teachers, parents and other ASD concerned persons we planned these conferences to meet those specific, critical needs.

This high caliber career planning is the key to a successful future with positive long-term outcomes and is ESSENTIAL for:
* Career counselors, job developers/job coaches, rehab administrators, vocational coordinators
* Special education administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, case managers, therapists
* Students, parents, caregivers, and young adults with ASDs (16+)

Date and Location

James Emmett is a national leader in development of employment services for persons with autism spectrum disorders as well as in assisting corporations in creation of outreach efforts to the disability and autism communities. He is an individual with a disability and a parent of three daughters with disabilities. James currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Integrated Behavioral Systems (www.integratedbehavioralsystems.com) and is a Partner in the consulting firm Two Steps Forward (www.twostepsforwardinc.com). He graduated with a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Illinois Institute of Technology. James recently completed 1.5 years working as the Disability Program Manager for Walgreens helping set up the company's national disability initiative (www.walgreensoutreach.com). He also assisted Easter Seals National in laying the foundation for their national autism services network.

Karen Steffan, MS, CRC has worked in the field of Rehabilitation and Transition for over 26 years and has been the LADSE Transition and Vocational Program Coordinator for the past 15 years. Karen's experience spans a broad spectrum of responsibilities including job development and placement, classroom instruction, program development, grant writing, professional development and training, project management, and program administration in public and not-for-profit sectors.  Karen provided employment, transition, and advocacy training to thousands of colleagues in private through university settings.  She has lead the Transition Alliance Next Steps Training Team for the past 20 years, training parents on the topic of effective transition planning. Karen has been a board member on local and state boards such as G&A Human Rights Committee, Illinois Job Placement Division, Suburban Access, Seguin Services and IAPSE.  She is a member of multiple professional associations including ACTE, NRA/IRA, ARC and Advocates United.

Christopher Simler is the Chief Executive Officer and Autism Consultant for Integrated Behavioral Systems, Inc. Christopher is classically trained as an Applied Behavioral Scientist specializing in the field of Autism supports, strategies, and curriculum development. As a Behavioral Scientist, Christopher applies his knowledge of leadership, program development, communication and instruction as key components in working with a person with autism. Over the last thirteen years Christopher has worked with non-profits, school districts, transition programs, national associations and co-operative special education programs providing autism trainings and behavioral support. He feels the key to success for people with autism needs to be geared towards transition and vocational placement. The process is one that is systematic and must be viewed from a behavioral, social, academic and structural point of view. Christopher continues to work with agencies in the Chicago area providing a strong and successful future for people with autism.

Prices

Two Day Professional:
Early Bird Through Sept. 28 - $175
Regular After Sept. 28 - $205

One Day Professional:
Early Bird Through Sept. 28 - $125
Regular After Sept. 28 - $140

Two Day Parent or Young Adult:
$120

One Day Parent or Young Adult:
$80

Additional Training:

"Mental Illness in Children" by Christopher Okiishi, M.D. 
http://www.spectrumtrainingsystemsinc.com/lansing2.html 

Thank you!

Spectrum Training Systems, Inc.
spectrumtrainingsystems@yahoo.com
(920) 749-0332 

 

Please see the email below from Ann Guinan. She sent this in response to my
inquiry about recent clarification regarding need for a surrogate parent for
kids in temporary foster care. This clarification is different from the
clarification I received from Ann, in February, just prior to ETR/IEP
training.

From Ann Guinan, at Office for Exceptional Children (5/26/09):

What has changed is the definition of "ward of the state". Under the
federal statute all children in foster care are now "wards of the state".
This means that there are specific things under parental consent and
evaluation that apply to this group of children. This is the "new"
information and it is universal, i.e., all children in foster care are now
defined as "wards of the state".

A second issue is the appointment of surrogate parents. There are two
interpretations in the state as to when a surrogate parent is needed. A
group of attorneys in Northeast Ohio interpret the law to say that unless a
judge specifically removes "educational decision making authority" in the
custody order, the child's parent retains educational rights and no
surrogate parent needs to be appointed.

ODE's interpretation is that if a judge removes custody of a child from a
parent and does not specifically state that the parent retains educational
decision making authority, then it can be assumed that the parent does not
have that right and a surrogate parent needs to be appointed. This position
is based on the fact that Ohio Revised Code outlines what rights transfer to
the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS)when custody is
removed from a parent and one of those rights is educational decision making
authority along with food, clothing, medical decision making authority, etc.

We have told districts to consult their legal counsel on which
interpretation the district will use and then whatever that is, to use it
consistently.

Hope this clarifies things. Let me know if you need something else.

Ann
--
Sent for:
Sue Bitsko, Consultant
State Support Team 13
HCESC/CRES
1301 Bonnell St., 3rd Floor
Reading OH 45215
(513) 674-4261
sue.bitsko@hcesc.org

Sent by:
Terri Densford
Support Staff
Hamilton County Center for Regional Education Services/SST Region 13
1301 Bonnell Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45215
513-674-4278
terri.densford@hcesc.org