| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007 - "Register now for the National Training Institute" |
Register Now for the School-Based Mentoring Training Institute EARLY BIRD RATE AVAILABLE! National Training Institute for School-Based Mentoring Whether you are managing a mentoring program in your school district, thinking about it or just getting started, the February Training Institute in Kansas City, Mo., is the place for you. Register now, as space is limited. For more details and a registration form, click here. Also, obtain more information at mentormap.org, by contacting Alisha Gambino at gambino@youthfriends.org or by calling: 1.877.842.7082 toll free |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007 - "All County TF Mtg Reminder" |
This is a reminder that the All County Task Force Meeting will be Thursday, December 6th at SWOSERRC beginning at 8:00 am with coffee & networking. Dr. Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington, Seattle will be our guest. Dr. Gay will speak with us about her work and experience around the relationship of strong multicultural skills and competencies and their impact on issues such as disproportionality, student achievement, and suspension and expulsion rates. You will also have an opportunity to dialogue with Dr. Gay, and colleagues on district and regional concerns around culturally responsive practices for all students. Debbie Clyde, Secretary Click on www.swoserrc.org and then click the Professional Development button to see the latest in professional development offerings at the SWO SERRC State Support Team Region 13. |
| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2007 - "Second training Ziggurat Model" |
You will find a flyer attached for the second training on the Ziggurat Model, for students with characteristics on the autism spectrum. Previously, there have been scholarships for families. The registration and presentation are handled by the Regional Autism Council. If you have questions call the number on the flyer. Downlaod Flyer - Click Here Sue Bitsko |
| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2007 - "Attorney Marc Dann " |
To: Community Schools & Supporters Subject: Attorney General targets additional charter schools Gongwer reported that the Attorney General Marc Dann has targeted “at least” three additional schools for closure actions. OCQE will keep you informed of the Attorney General’s actions and our response. (Story below) Ohio Coalition for Quality Education ATTORNEY GENERAL POISED TO SUE MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS; AUDITS CITE PROBLEMS WITH TRUMBULL STARTUPS Attorney General Marc Dann has "at least" three more charter schools targeted for closure actions that will be filed soon, a spokesman said Tuesday. The legal developments coincide with the release of critical state audits of two Trumbull County startups that were previously deemed "inauditable." Mr. Dann roiled the Ohio community school atmosphere earlier this year by filing lawsuits against three Dayton-area charters on the basis that they had not followed laws governing charitable trusts. (See Gongwer Ohio Report, September 12, 2007) Those actions came with the promise of more, and the AG's office said the follow-ups were pending in short order. "We're going to file at least three more actions in the near future," Dann spokesman Leo Jennings said. The latest filings will also allege that the schools have failed to meet state requirements for nonprofits. |
| MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2007 - "OEC Special Education Statewide Conference" |
This is my follow up e-mail concerning the Statewide Special Education Conference that will be held on January 16 – 17, 2008 at Battelle Hall in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. We very much hope that each district and other special education entities will be represented. Registration is limited to one (1) contact per district/community school/entity until December 15, 2007. After that, registration for additional district staff will be made available until capacity is reached. The registration fee is $55 per person, to cover meals; once the meal capacity of 1200 is reached, additional registrants will not be charged the registration fee. As noted in the earlier e-mail, those who attend the conference can expect to learn about: We at OEC look forward to meeting you and listening to your ideas and concerns as we continue to build our communication effectiveness with districts. I sincerely hope that your district will be represented. Conference information and directions for registering through STARS v2.0 can be found by accessing the ODE home page (www.ode.state.oh.us), and inserting the phrase “statewide conference” into the search box. You may also contact Ronda Hinson at Ronda.Hinson@ode.state.oh.us for more information. When you register you will be on the waiting list until your payment is processed by OEC. The “Exception” message on the waiting list confirmation screen does not prohibit you from registering for the conference. The following information regarding STARS User Profile is not included on the website announcement but providing the information in the STAR User Profile will expedite the matching of your check to your registration, printing of name tags and sign in sheets with your organization for the conference. It will also allow OEC to create a mailing list and list serve with all the key contacts for Special Education so we can update you directly about special education in Ohio . To complete the STARS User Profile: Again, for more information or help with registration, please contact Ronda Hinson at Ronda.Hinson@ode.state.oh.us. Thanks and I hope to see you on the 16th ! Happy Holidays. Greg |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007 - "Let's Not Forget Why We are Here!" |
To: Ohio Community Schools & Supporters Subject: Let’s not forget why we are here! Last week, the New York Times published an article about Ohio community schools and Attorney General Marc Dann’s unorthodox assault on three schools in Dayton. Below is a response from Jeanne Allen, President of The Center for Education Reform. This commentary is very important because it refocuses the reason why community schools exist in Ohio. Traditional education simply does not have a successful record of educating urban students. But over the years, this message has been blurred. Teachers’ unions have made the decision that community schools and any other forms of educational choice do not serve the interest of their organizations and have launched non-stop attacks and lawsuits. OCQE does not support any school that fails to deliver on the promise to educate and elevate underserved urban students. And yes, of the over 300 community schools in Ohio there are a small number of schools that will not be able to fulfill that promise. But, Ohio legislators have created laws to address failing community schools. Ms. Allen’s commentary clears the blurred lines and reminds us why community schools were created in Ohio. Because thousands of students were and still are trapped in over 200 failing traditional urban schools that are costing the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Urban parents deserve multiple educational choices for their children. Let’s not forget why we are here! November 15, 2007 (Commentary below) Ohio Coalition for Quality Education The New York Times To the Editor: While your Nov. 8 news article “Ohio Goes After Charter Schools That Are Failing” offers a balanced presentation of the issues and opinions driving the charter school controversy in that state, it unfortunately leaves a stigma attached to charters by saying the state is cracking down on the schools (as if they’re somehow a scourge) and overlooks the continuing and far more widespread failures of traditional public school systems across the state. Certainly some of Ohio’s charter schools are not performing as well as had been hoped for when they were founded. But in many of these cases it’s because the schools have taken on the challenge of educating the difficult-to-reach children who were given up on by traditional public schools — the children who, every year, fell further and further behind and received no help; the children who, were it not for their charter school, would have dropped out or landed in jail or worse. For them, charter schools are their last best hope for receiving an education and ultimately succeeding in life. Will these students be better off if their charter schools go out of business? The answer must be a resounding no. If Ohio’s governor and attorney general truly want to deliver on a promise of delivering quality education for all of the state’s children, let them launch an across-the-board crackdown on all failing public schools, including the traditional, union-run schools that for far too long have been far too comfortable in their abysmal performance and shameful failure to help children learn and succeed. Jeanne Allen |
| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 - "Community Schools Task Force Meeting" |
Please respond back to this message if you will attend the Tuesday November 20th Task Force Mtg. Regarding: Meeting for Community School personnel related to special education issues Agenda: Lee Ketcham Lee E. Ketcham, SWO SERRC / SST Region 13 Check out current & future learning opportunities at www.swoserrc.org |
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2007 - "OCSAA Practice Begins, Season Start, Holiday Tournament on the Horizon" |
Website: www.charterschoolsports.org Ohio Charter School Athletic Association |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007 - "Community Schools Task Force meeting" |
To: Community Schools Due to unforseen conflict the Task Force Meeting for Community Schools regarding special education related issues is changed fromThursday November 14, 2007 to November 20, 2007. The time is 2:00 to 3:30. The location is SWO SERRC 1301 Bonnell Suite 3 (we are housed in the Reading Central Elementary School in Reading Ohio). Please let us know if you are able to attend. Lee Ketcham, SWO SERRC / State Support Team Region 13
Go to www.swoserrc.org Click on Professional Development. Check out current & future learning opportunities. |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007 - "Follow Up Oct All Co Mtg" |
All County Task Force Members, On October 18, 2007 Greg Maloney, State Director of Special Education, attended our All County meeting. During the meeting, three topics were discussed at table which followed Greg's presentation of information related to those topics: I. Special Education Operating Standards II. State Performance Plan: Key Indicators III. Accountability, School Improvement, AYP, Closing the Achievement Gap. I have attached the summary report of the table discussions. In the near future, I will be sending the report to Greg with a follow-up phone conversation related to the key questions posed by the group under the three identified topic areas. As I hear back from Greg and the staff at OEC, I will share further information updates. Our next All County Task Force meeting is planned for December 6, 2007.
Dr. Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington,
Seattle will be our guest. Dr. Gay is nationally and internationally
known for her scholarship in multicultural education, particularly as it
relates to curriculum design, staff development, classroom instruction,
Thank You, Bill Sent for Bill Bogdan |
| THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007 - "January State Meeting/Conference Information" |
Colleagues, The January 16-17, 2008 state meeting/conference for directors of special education has been posted on the ODE website under Professional Development, STARS. All attendees must register through the state STARS systems. In order to use the systems, each user must open a SAFE account. If you have not opened an account, the process for creating your personal account is listed below. Once your account has been opened, you may enter STARS, go to the January PD listings and find the two-day event listed under January 16, 2008. Best of luck. Bill ************************************************************* STARS version coming; register for SAFE account soon A new version of the System to Achieve Results for Students (STARS v2.0) will be released this fall. STARS provides for planning and management of professional development and technical assistance programs for Ohio educators. The current version of STARS will be used to schedule events for the remainder of 2007. Events scheduled to occur after Jan. 1, 2008, will be listed in the new version of STARS, and users will need to register using a SAFE account. Users who currently do not have a SAFE Account and plan to use STARS v2.0 are encouraged to obtain one. You also should complete the new STARS User Profile. To sign up for a SAFE account, click here <http://exchange.hcesc.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ode.state.oh .us/> to go to the ODE Web site and select the grey button - SAFE Account Sign In - on the left menu. Then click Sign Up and read the user agreement. In Step 1 of the sign-up process, please note that the "Ohio State ID number" option is not the number from teaching certificates or licenses used by the current system. It is issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles for people who need an identification document, but do not operate a motor vehicle. If you need help obtaining a SAFE account, please e-mail: safe.admin@ode.state.us.oh |
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007 - "Detroit & Cleveland Autism/AS Trainings" |
DETROIT, MICHIGAN October 31, 2007 "Asperger Syndrome: Beyond the Basics" Children and adolescents with Asperger Syndrome (AS) can intrigue and confound us- often simultaneously. Designed for participants with a basic knowledge of AS, this workshop will present a framework that allows us to build upon strengths in order to minimize challenges in the real world. Participants will learn accommodations, modifications, and direct teaching strategies that optimize availability for learning and enhance social cognition, communication, and emotional competence. The workshopwill emphasize practical strategies that can be used across school, home, and community settings. November 1, 2007 "Behavior Solutions for Autism Spectrum Disorders" Increase understanding of the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) that impact behavior and can foster communication breakdowns and feelings of being overwhelmed. Learn how to address both the social and sensory needs of an individual. Topics will include: effective behavior interventions, visual supports for maximizing communication and minimizing confusion, and preventing and dealing with shutdowns and meltdowns. This presentation is appropriate for educators, therapists, caregivers and parents of children/teens with ASD. Location: Doubletree Hotel Dearborn Professional 2 Days: Professional 1 Day: Parent 2 Days: Parent 1 Day: 1.2 SB-CEUs are available for Michigan educators who attend both days. Printer-friendly conference information ********************************************** CLEVELAND, OHIO November 15 Specific, user-friendly strategies and techniques for providing relevant social skills instruction to children and teens with ASD will be shared at this workshop. Enjoyable socialization methods are emphasized so individuals may experience success and desire to build skills. Social deficits affect life at home, school and eventually in the workplace. Conference participants will learn both highly beneficial strategies that can be used across a variety of settings and routines; and practical and effective solutions to assist 'typical' peers, family members and professionals to become more understanding, accepting and engaging of those with social difficulties. November 16 This workshop will focus on specific strategies to increase the likelihood of providing a successful experience for students with Asperger Syndrome (AS) in school. Workshop participants will (a) gain an understanding of the challenges of students with AS in the school setting; (b) learn specific strategies to reduce the likelihood of problematic behavior by pro-actively engineering a supportive environment, and (c) learn practical strategies to address common academic, social, organizational, and behavioral issues. Location: Holiday Inn Westlake / Cleveland West Professional 2 Days: Professional 1 Day: Parent 2 Days: Parent 1 Day: |
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007 - "Value Added Training" |
To: Ohio Community School Sponsors Re: 2007-2008 Value-Added Training & Resources This memo is to inform you about the value-added training and resources available to your
schools in the 2007-2008 school year.
Statewide Value-Added Implementation You soon will receive notification from the Ohio Department of Education about access to your value-added results for the spring 2007 tests. These results will include value-added reports in reading and math, grades 4-8. As this diagnostic and accountability tool is phased in, there is a continuing need for Ohio educators to learn about value-added, its applications and how it can help improve student achievement. Statewide Support for Value-Added Implementation In the last biennium, funding was available to train:
In the new biennium, the Ohio legislature will continue to fund this important work. For the 2007-08 school year, funds are available to:
Your community schools’ staff members must register for the two day principal trainings offered in their region using STARS, ODE’s online system for educators to register themselves for professional development opportunities throughout the state. The Value-Added Learning Network will be available in November and a designee from all Community School Sponsors will be notified when access to the network becomes available. Battelle for Kids will work with the Office of Community Schools to determine CVAS
replacement training eligibility for staff members of community school sponsors. This training Questions Regional CVAS & Principal Training (2 days) Value-Added Learning Network Additional Value-Added Training for Community Schools For more information on this training, contact: Access to Value-Added Reports We look forward to working with you as we prepare for the addition of growth measures to
complement Ohio’s accountability system on the 2007-2008 report card. Battelle for Kids & the Ohio Department of Education |
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007 - "Learning Opportunity" |
Attached is a wonderful opportunity for December 6 & 7, 2007. We previously sent this information but the date of December 6 originally was to be held at Mt. St. Joseph and now will be here at the SERRC as well. Please try to attend one of these sessions.
Sent by: Susan Weber, Secretary for Lee Ketcham, Consultant |
| MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007 - "Link and Learn Parent Summit" |
Date & Time Address The Ohio Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio PTA, invite parents and educators, to attend the Family-School Partnership Link and Learn Summit. The purpose of this summit is to provide school teams with information and strategies to create and sustain effective family–school partnerships that support student learning. Karen Mapp, Ed.D, Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and nationally known for her research and practice in educational partnerships among schools, families and community members will assist school teams in building effective family-school partnerships focused on increasing student achievement. Registration Form - Click Here |