The ESC BRIDGE
Bridging Resources, Information, and Data from
Government and Education
For the Week of May 8th, 2017
Colleagues,
The ESC Bridge is a weekly review of important news, research and legislation from national, state and local education entities presented in one document to help you stay up to date on issues that affect your district or organization. I welcome your feedback as we work to improve this resource to meet your needs. If you are aware of any other colleagues that are interested in receiving this weekly document, please have them send an email to me at [email protected].
Bob
National, Federal, US Department of Education
Ohio schools could lose millions under Obamacare repeal-replace bill facing vote today The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio schools could lose millions of dollars they now get to pay for speech and physical therapy, behavioral services, student evaluations and other special education services, because of changes to Medicaid in the congressional bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. The money assists about 61,000 students in 580 Ohio school districts. In 2013, the last year for which final figures are available, the federal government sent Ohio schools an estimated $47.25 million for the program.
Betsy DeVos: Federal Progress on School Choice Coming Soon Education Week
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said the Trump administration and Congress will move forward on their vision for school choice "in the not-too-distant future." It's no secret that expanding school choice is the Trump administration's favorite K-12 policy. But the administration has yet to release a detailed proposal explaining how it plans to make that a reality. The best clues are in the administration's preliminary budget request, which was released in March and calls for ramping up charter school funding, allowing some federal funding to encourage public school choice, and a new private school choice initiative. But the request doesn't offer many specifics.
Health Care Bill's Changes to Medicaid Alarm School Advocacy Groups Education Week
As we reported in March on an earlier version of the AHCA, the change to health care law bases state allocations of Medicaid money in part on how many people are in particular populations. Supporters of the change see it as way for states to be more creative with how they use dollars for Medicaid. But groups such as the AASA, the School Superintendents Association, the National School Boards Association, the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and the two national teachers' unions are saying the bill would harm children.
Bill to Revamp Career and Technical Education Law Introduced in House Education Week
Legislation to overhaul the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act was introduced on Thursday in the House of Representatives. The bill is similar in several respects to legislation the House passed last year that grants states more flexibility over spending and priorities. The prospects for the bill, called theStrengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, could be strong, given the success the 2016 version enjoyed last year, and how lawmakers and advocacy groups are pushing hard to make CTE a priority in Washington.
Ohio Legislation Update (recent bill action in red)
132nd General Assembly
House
HB3 DATAOHIO BOARD CREATION (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Christina Hagan) To create the DataOhio Board, to specify requirements for posting public records online, to require the Auditor of State to adopt rules regarding a uniform accounting system for public offices, to establish an online catalog of public data at data.Ohio.gov, to establish the Local Government Information Exchange Grant Program, and to make appropriations
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB21 COMMUNITY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION (Rep. Steve Hambley) Regarding verification of community school enrollments
STATUS: Referred to House Education & Career Readiness Committee
HB37 SCHOOL SAFETY-STRUCTURES (Rep. Steve Arndt) To require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to establish a program assisting school districts in purchasing technology and making physical alterations to improve technology infrastructure and school safety and security
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Education & Career Readiness Committee
HB47 STUDENTS IN MILITARY (Rep. John Boccieri) To enact the "Students to Soldiers Support Act (S3A)" regarding the participation of students who are serving in the uniformed services in extracurricular activities at public and nonpublic schools and public and private colleges
STATUS: Referred to House Education & Career Readiness Committee
HB49 OPERATING BUDGET (Rep. Ryan Smith) Creates FY 2018-2019 main operating budget
STATUS: House Finance Committee – Substitute bill accepted
House Proposed Changes to HB49 – Hannah/Ohio House
HB49 Foundation Aid Estimates, Comparison of Executive to House, FY18-FY19 – Hannah/Ohio House
HB49 JVSD Foundation Aid Estimates, Comparison of Executive to House, FY18-FY19 – Hannah/Ohio House
HB49 Budget in Detail (in House Finance) – LSC
HB49 Comparison Document - Education (in House Finance) – LSC
HB49 Comparison Document – Developmental Disabilities (in House Finance) – LSC
HB49 Comparison Document – Higher Education (in House Finance) – LSC
HB49 Comparison Document – Jobs & Family Services (in House Finance) – LSC
HB53 PUBLIC EMPLOYEES-MEMBER DUES (Rep. John Becker) To remove any requirement under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Law that public employees join or pay dues to any employee organization, to prohibit public employers from requiring public employees to join or pay dues to any employee organization, to prohibit an employee organization from being required to represent public employees who are not members of the employee organization, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to House Finance Committee
HB58 CURSIVE HANDWRITING INSTRUCTION (Rep. Andrew Brenner, Rep. Marilyn Slaby) To require instruction in cursive handwriting
STATUS: Referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
HB66 TENURED TEACHING REQUIREMENTS (Rep. Ron Young) To require permanently tenured state university or college faculty members to teach at least three credit hours of undergraduate courses per semester
STATUS: Referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
HB74 INCREASE COLLEGE TAX DEDUCTION (Rep. Stephen Huffman, Rep. Theresa Gavarone) To increase the maximum income tax deduction for contributions to the state's 529 college savings program from $2,000 to $3,000 per beneficiary per year
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB77 SICK-CHILD CARE LICENSURE (Rep. Wes Retherford) To provide for the licensure of sick-child care centers
STATUS: Referred to House Economic Development, Commerce & Labor Committee
HB80 SCHOOL FOOD-SUMMER INTERVENTION (Rep. Sarah LaTourette, Rep. Kent Smith) To require school districts to allow approved summer food service program sponsors to use school facilities to provide food service for summer intervention services under certain conditions
STATUS: (Passed by House) Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
HB87 COMMUNITY SCHOOL PUBLIC MONEYS (Rep. Kristina Roegner) Regarding public moneys returned to the state as a result of a finding for recovery issued pursuant to an audit of a community school
STATUS: Referred to House Government Accountability & Oversight Committee
HB89 AUGUST SALES TAX HOLIDAY (Rep. John Patterson, Rep. Brigid Kelly) To provide for a three-day sales tax "holiday" in August 2017 during which sales of clothing and school supplies are exempt from sales and use taxes
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB98 CAREER INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS (Rep. Mike Duffey, Rep. Kristin Boggs) Regarding the presentation of career information to students
STATUS: Referred to House Education & Career Readiness Committee
HB102 SCHOOL FUNDING REFORM (Rep. Andrew Brenner) To replace locally levied school district property taxes with a statewide property tax and require recipients of certain tax exemptions to reimburse the state for such levy revenue lost due to those exemptions; to increase the state sales and use tax rates and allocate additional revenue to state education purposes; to repeal school district income taxes; to require the Treasurer of State to issue general obligation bonds to refund certain school district debt obligations; to create a new system of funding schools where the state pays a specified amount per student that each student may use to attend the public or chartered nonpublic school of the student's choice, without the requirement of a local contribution; to eliminate the School Facilities Commission; to eliminate the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program, Pilot Project Scholarship Program, Autism Scholarship Program, and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program; to eliminate interdistrict open enrollment; to require educational service centers to transport students on a countywide basis; and to permit school districts to enter into a memoranda of understanding for one district to manage another
STATUS: Referred to House Finance Committee
HB103 FISCAL EMERGENCY PROVISIONS (Rep. William Reineke) To modify the composition and powers of the financial planning and supervision commission of a political subdivision that is in a state of fiscal emergency and to clarify the duties of that political subdivision
STATUS: House State & Local Government Committee – Reported out; Passed by House, Vote 96-1
HB108 INFORMED STUDENT DOCUMENT ACT (Rep. Christina Hagan, Rep. Robert McColley) To require one-half unit of financial literacy in the high schoolcurriculum, to require the Chancellor of Higher Education to prepare an informed student document for each institution of higher education, to require the State Board of Education to include information on the informed student document in the standards and model curricula it creates for financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and to entitle the act the "Informed Student Document Act"
STATUS: Referred to House Education & Career Readiness Committee
HB110 COLLEGE CREDIT APPRENTICESHIPS (Rep. Christina Hagan, Rep. Bill Dean) To create a subprogram of the College Credit Plus Program that permitsstudents to participate in certified apprenticeship programs
STATUS: Referred to House Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee
HB118 TAX COMPLAINT DISMISSAL (Rep. Derek Merrin) To expressly prohibit the dismissal of a property tax complaint for failure to correctly identify the property owner
STATUS: Referred to House Ways & Means Committee
HB124 VOCATIONAL SCHOOL TAX LEVY (Rep. Andrew Brenner, Rep. Rick Carfagna) To authorize a joint vocational school district to submit the question of a renewal tax levy to voters who did not have an opportunity to vote on the levy at an election held in November of 2015 because the levy was only placed on the ballot in one of several counties in which the district has territory
STATUS: House Ways & Means Committee – Substitute bill accepted
HB129 SCHOOL EXTERNSHIPS-GOVERNOR (Rep. Kent Smith, Rep. Brigid Kelly) To require the Governor to complete a forty-hour externship consisting of on-site work experience in city, local, and exempted village school districts in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years
STATUS: Referred to House State & Local Government Committee
HB134 SCHOOL COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS (Rep. Steve Hambley, Rep. Darrell Kick) To allow community improvements board grants to a school district to be spent for permanent improvements outside the county so long as the improvements are within the school district
STATUS: Referred to House State & Local Government Committee
HB163 PREVAILING WAGE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS (Rep. Kristina Roegner, Rep. Craig Riedel) To allow political subdivisions, special districts, and state institutions of higher education to elect to apply the Prevailing Wage Law to public improvement projects
STATUS: Introduced
HB166 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM REVISIONS (Rep. William Reineke, Rep. Bob Cupp) To revise the laws governing the state's workforce development system, programs that may be offered by primary and secondary schools, certificates of qualification for employment, and the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency, and to designate the first week of May as In-Demand Jobs Week
STATUS: Introduced
HB170 COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION (Rep. Rick Carfagna, Rep. Mike Duffey) With regard to academic content standards and curriculum requirements for computer science; to revise educator qualifications regarding computer science; to create a competitive technology grant program for the 2018-2019 school year; and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced
HB176 SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS (Rep. Andrew Thompson) With regard to state achievement assessments, statewide academic content standards and model curricula, and teacher and administrator evaluations
STATUS: Introduced
HB179 IMMIGRATION LAW COMPLIANCE (Rep. Candice Keller) To require state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws, to prohibit a local government that fails to do so from receiving certain state funds, to provide for the removal of officers of a local government that fails to do so, and to declare an emergency
STATUS: Introduced
HB181 ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT STANDARDS (Rep. Ron Hood, Rep. Tom Brinkman) With regard to the state academic content standards and primary and secondary education assessments
STATUS: Introduced
HB186 COLLEGE TAX DEDUCTION (Rep. John Rogers, Rep. Gary Scherer) To enact the "Blair Deduction" to allow an individual obtaining a postsecondary degree or credential from an eligible educational institution to claim an income tax deduction for qualified higher education expenses
STATUS: Introduced
Senate
SB3 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (Sen. Bill Beagle, Sen. Troy Balderson) To revise the laws governing the state's workforce development system, programs that may be offered by primary and secondary schools, certificates of qualification for employment, and the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency, and to designate the first week of May as In-Demand Jobs Week
STATUS: Passed by Senate, Vote 33-0
SB5 INCREASING INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS (Sen. Jay Hottinger, Sen. John Eklund) To increase the maximum income tax deduction for contributions to college savings accounts and disability expense savings accounts to $10,000 annually for each beneficiary, to create the Joint Committee on Ohio College Affordability, and to declare an emergency
STATUS: Senate Finance Committee
SB8 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY (Sen. Randy Gardner, Sen. Louis Terhar) To require the Ohio School Facilities Commission to establish a program assisting school districts in purchasing technology and making physical alterations to improve technology infrastructure and school safety and security
STATUS: Introduced
SB9 AUGUST TAX HOLIDAY (Sen. Kevin Bacon) To provide for a three-day sales tax "holiday" in August 2017 during which sales of clothing and school supplies are exempt from sales and use taxes
STATUS: (Passed by Senate) House Ways & Means Committee – Reported out
SB15 COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To require community colleges, state community colleges, technical colleges, and university branches to comply with minority business enterprise set-aside requirements, and to require the Director of Administrative Services to establish guidelines for these entities, and the Northeast Ohio Medical University, to establish procurement goals for contracting with EDGE business enterprises
STATUS: Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB17 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND ALLOCATION (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To increase monthly allocations to the Local Government Fund from 1.66% to 3.68% of the total tax revenue credited to the General Revenue Fund each month
STATUS: Senate Finance Committee
SB34 SCHOOL YEARS (Sen. Gayle Manning) To generally require public and chartered nonpublic schools to open for instruction after Labor Day
STATUS: Introduced
SB39 COMMUNITY SCHOOL OPERATION (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) Regarding community school operator contracts, the operation of Internet- and computer-based community schools, and performance metrics for blended learning schools
STATUS: Introduced
SB39 COMMUNITY SCHOOL OPERATION (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) Regarding community school operator contracts, the operation of Internet- and computer-based community schools, and performance metrics for blended learning schools
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB54 SUMMER FOOD PROGRAMS (Sen. Edna Brown, Sen. Peggy Lehner) To require school districts to allow approved summer food service program sponsors to use school facilities to provide food service for summer intervention services under certain conditions
STATUS: Introduced; Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB72 PREVAILING WAGE LAW (Sen. Matt Huffman) To allow political subdivisions, special districts, and state institutions of higher education to elect to apply the Prevailing Wage Law to public improvement projects
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Committee
SB82 SCHOOL ABSENCES-PARENTAL NOTIFICATION (Sen. Sandra Williams, Sen. Peggy Lehner) To require a public school to place a telephone call within one hour of the start of the school day to a parent whose child is absent without legitimate excuse
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB85 OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CREATION (Sen. Matt Huffman) To eliminate the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program and Pilot Project Scholarship Program and to create the Opportunity Scholarship Program
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB88 SUBDIVISION COMMISSIONS-FISCAL EMERGENCY (Sen. Louis Terhar) To modify the composition and powers of the financial planning and supervision commission of a political subdivision that is in a state of fiscal emergency and to clarify the duties of that political subdivision
STATUS: Passed by Senate, Vote 33-0
SB97 REGIONAL STUDY COMMITTEE CREATION (Sen. Frank LaRose, Sen. Kenny Yuko) To establish a Regional Economic Development Alliance Study Committee to study the benefits and challenges involved in creating regional economic development alliances
STATUS: Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB104 PROHIBIT SECLUSION USE-SCHOOLS (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To prohibit the use of seclusion on students in public schools
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB105 MONTH DESIGNATION-OHIO PRINCIPALS (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To designate the month of October as "Ohio Principals Month”
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB111 SCHOOL ZONE SIGN LIGHTS (Sen. Charleta Tavares) To require school zones to be indicated by signs equipped with flashing or other lights or that indicate the times during which the restrictive speed limit is enforced, and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Referred to Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee
SB123 PROPERTY TAX COMPLAINT PROCESS (Sen. William Coley) To limit the right to initiate most types of property tax complaints to the property owner and the county recorder of the county in which the property is located
STATUS: Referred to Senate Ways & Means Committee
SB124 COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY GRANTS (Sen. Sandra Williams) To qualify students in noncredit community college and career and technical programs for Ohio College Opportunity Grants and to require the awarding of academic credit for community colleges’ career certification programs
STATUS: Referred to Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee
SB133 STUDENT DISCIPLINE-VIOLENT BEHAVIOR (Sen. Frank LaRose) To require the Education Management Information System to include information regarding persons at whom a student's violent behavior that resulted in discipline was directed and to require the Department of Education to submit a one-time report to the General Assembly regarding that information
STATUS: Referred to Senate Education Committee
SB140 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP GRANTS (Sen. Joe Schiavoni) To create the Public-Private Partnership Grant Program for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to develop, enhance, and promote educational programs to address regional workforce needs; to create the Sector Partnership Grant Program for fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to identify and provide grants to industry partnerships; to support programs that improve access to workforce training opportunities for students; to support economic development and revitalization programs; and to make an appropriation
STATUS: Introduced
SB149 ELECTION POLLING PLACES-SCHOOLS (Sen. Frank LaRose) Regarding the use of a school district building as a polling place for elections
STATUS: Introduced
Ohio Budget and Politics
Kucinich criticizes Ohio education funding formula at Elyria town hall Willoughby News-Herald
Former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich addressed a packed town hall meeting held at the Educational Service Center of Lorain County at 1885 Lake Ave. in Elyria on April 27. The town hall addressed the issue of charter schools and Ohio’s education funding scheme. The event was organized by Lorain County Parents Supporting our Parents and Teachers and the audience included people on both sides of the charter school debate.
House budget bill amendments water down Ohio’s charter school reform, critics say Akron Beacon Journal
In the Ohio House this week, Gov. John Kasich’s state budget bill was altered to give charter school sponsors a way to pass newly created evaluations, which many have failed. The provision prohibits the Ohio Department of Education from flunking a sponsor that gets a zero on any one component of the state’s new three-pronged accountability system. Another change allows sponsors, which sign off on the opening and closing of charter schools, to review and appeal evaluations before they are released to the public.
School funding cap hits central Ohio districts hard, costs $890 million statewide Columbus Dispatch
When the House rolled out its state budget changes last week, it included a $20 per pupil increase for charter schools and $6 more for private schools, compared to Gov. John Kasich’s initial plan. But for Olentangy Schools, which is adding students faster than any district in the state, the House changes meant only $5.50 more per pupil by 2019. Julie Wagner Feasel, a veteran Olentangy school board member, saw it as another kick to a district whose per-pupil state funding totals less than half of the roughly $1,200 the state pays to private schools
Higher Ed Committee Hears Bills with Ties to Budget Hannah
Noting that two bills heard for the first time by the House Higher Education and Workforce Committee Wednesday have related provisions in the just-passed House version of the proposed FY18-19 budget, HB49 (R. Smith), Committee Chair Rep. Mike Duffey (R-Worthington) assured members that both bills would be heard further. They are Rep. Ron Young's (R-Leroy Twp.) HB66, which deals with tenure at the state's universities and colleges, and Reps. Christina Hagan's (R-Alliance) and Bill Dean's (R-Xenia) HB110, which deals with college credit for apprenticeship programs.
Ohio House plan gives charter school sponsors rated ‘effective’ today a perpetual pass on new and failing e-schools Akron Beacon Journal
Amendments in the state budget bill would prevent the Ohio Department of Education from forcing academically failing charter schools to close — particularly online schools that have some of worst test scores in the nation and the most influential donors and lobbyists in Ohio. The House passed the $63.7 billion budget bill on Tuesday. It is now being considered by the Senate.
E-school leeway in budget bill was mistake and should be axed, House Republicans say The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Leaders of the Ohio House say an e-school provision in the just-passed state budget bill should never have been included in the bill because it creates leeway for poor-performing online schools that they never intended. Rep. Ryan Smith, chairman of the House Finance Committee, said his committee did not realize that an amendment added to the bill could allow e-schools to avoid some consequences for the poor academic performance of their students.
Proposals would ban schools from challenging property taxes or make them pay opponent’s attorneys when they lose Akron Beacon Journal
School districts and businesses are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers to fight over property taxes. Schools want to collect more, and businesses try to pay less. It’s a quiet and expensive game of cat-and-mouse that plays out each year in Columbus or county offices where property values are adjusted, challenged and readjusted. Each tweak impacts tax bills.
Charter schools want more money to have "funding equity" with districts The Cleveland Plain Dealer
John Zitzner isn't bothered that the Breakthrough charter schools he oversees have less money than the Cleveland school district. He expects that, since charter schools were created 20 years ago with a promise that private managers could do more with less money when running public schools. But half? Or two-thirds, depending on how you count it?
Ohio schools could lose millions in Medicaid cuts Marietta Times
The health care bill repealing much of the Affordable Care Act passed by the U.S. House could cost Ohio millions in Medicaid funding. The Medicaid School Program helps schools pay for special education services and provide wellness care to children in poverty.The bill approved last week proposes $880 billion in Medicaid funding cuts. If it becomes law, Ohio schools could lose $8 million to $12 million a year in funding.
Lager, School Officials Rally at Statehouse for ECOT Hannah
Embattled online charter school Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) brought a crowd of a few hundred people to the Statehouse to urge policymakers to defend the school, with speakers touting it as an educational haven for sick and bullied children. ECOT is battling the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) over enrollment review standards, with pending challenges in court and before the State Board of Education over ODE findings that its reported enrollment totals were off by several thousand students. (See The Hannah Report, 9/26/16.) Among speakers was ECOT founder William Lager, who said he was inspired to start the school by the plight of his late step-daughter, who had a chronic illness.
Ohio budget bill would curb school district property tax challenges The Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ohio school boards, county governments and other local officials would be on the hook for legal fees and court costs if they lose tax assessment appeals under a little-noticed amendment to the state budget bill. But lawmakers are also considering a separate bill that would ban such appeals altogether.
ECOT loses first appeal of order to repay $60 million; court appeal still pending The Cleveland Plain Dealer
A state hearing officer has ruled that the ECOT online charter school still owes the state $60 million, denying an administrative appeal of an audit that found the school was overpaid last school year. The decision is not final. The state school board will need to vote to seek recovery of the money. A court appeal is also still pending.
Ohio Department of Education/State Board of Education
DeMaria Reacts to House Education Changes in Senate Finance Testimony Hannah
Superintendent Paolo DeMaria raised concerns Wednesday with several elements of the House version of the FY18-19 biennial budget, HB49 (R. Smith). DeMaria listed numerous issues in testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, while qualifying his remarks to note he's not yet had a chance to discuss the extent of the changes with the State Board of Education. The superintendent said an amendment to lift testing requirements for state scholarship students attending private schools accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) undermines the long-standing principle that, with state funding, comes accountability.
School Board to Dig Into ESSA at Monthly Meeting Hannah
Implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) will be a prime focus next week for the State Board of Education, with all four standing committees scheduled to reivew portions of the new law. Discussions will start Monday morning at the concurrent 8:30 a.m. meetings of the Educators and Student Options Committee and Accountability and Continue Improvement Committee. The former will look at improving basic programs operated by local educational agencies, and disproportionate rates of access to educators. The latter will discuss 21st Century Community Learning Centers and education for homeless children and youth.
School Board Discusses ESSA Plans Hannah
The State Board of Education took a tour this week through how existing practices and recent legislative enactments fit in to Ohio’s plans to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). All the board’s standing committees discussed at least one section of the state’s plan template for ESSA during meetings Monday and Tuesday. In Tuesday morning’s Achievement and Graduation Requirements Meeting, Ohio Department of Education (ODE) staff led discussions on the plan’s sections A6, which addresses school conditions; A7, which addresses school transition; and E, regarding English language learners.
Early Childhood
Study Finds Link between Routines, Emotions and Weight for Preschoolers Hannah
Family structure including regular bedtimes, mealtimes and limited screen time appear to be linked to better emotional health in preschoolers, and that might lower the chances of obesity later in life, a new study suggests. “This study provides more evidence that routines for preschool-aged children are associated with their healthy development and could reduce the likelihood that these children will be obese,” said lead author Sarah Anderson of Ohio State University. The study – the first to look at the connections between early childhood routines and self-regulation and their potential association with weight problems in the pre-teen years – appears in the International Journal of Obesity.
College and Career Readiness
Early challenges, successes on guided pathways Community College Daily
Community colleges engaged in creating guided pathways for students are facing some expected challenges — from difficult conversations with faculty, to improving career counseling — but the changes are yielding results, even early on in their efforts. Leaders of several community colleges involved in pathways — including institutions new to the effort, as well as those that have already laid the ground with similar efforts over the past decade — shared their experiences during a session on pathways at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) annual convention.
A Plan to Kill High School Transcripts … and Transform College Admissions Inside Higher Ed
That's the ambition of a new education reform movement, which wants to rebuild how high schools record the abilities of students -- and in turn to change the way colleges evaluate applicants. Sounds like quite a task. But the idea is from a group with considerable clout and money: more than 100 private schools around the country, including such elite institutions as the Dalton School and the Spence School in New York City, plus such big guns as the Cranbrook Schools in Michigan, the Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and Miss Porter's School in Connecticut.
Northeast Ohio Schools
Cuyahoga County
Man Donates Entire Company To Ohio Schools Middleburg Heights - Berea Patch