www.BalanceEducationalServices.com
The Leader in Bullying Prevention

Staff, students and parents will enjoy the fun, fast-paced bully prevention workshops and come away with strategies they can use right away.

Students and staff especially appreciate the role-plays, as they use fun and realistic situations, which teach effective intervention strategies to stop all types of bullying including verbal bullying and social aggression.

• Staff “Nip Bullying in the Bud”   Teachers and staff gain practical knowledge on how to reduce bullying that can be quickly and easily incorporated into their existing programs.
• Bystanders Stop Bullying   Students learn to recognize the different forms of bullying, how group dynamics can lead to bullying, and how bystanders can stop bullying and relational or social aggression. 
• Parents' Prevent Bullying   Parents learn what role they play in bullying and social aggression, how to help their children make good friends, and prevent bullying from occurring.

info@BalanceEducationalServices.com
802-362-5448
www.BalanceEducationalServices.com

The Inclusive Classroom, and Preventing Special Education Due Process
 
September 29 - 30, 2010

"The Inclusive Classroom"
With Paula Kluth, Ph.D.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
This interactive day features group activities, real-world stories, and tools you can bring back to the classroom immediately. Participants will learn practical ways of supporting students with autism spectrum labels and other disabilities within a general education classroom. The centerpiece of the presentation is Dr. Kluth's "Top Ten Strategies List for Inclusive Classrooms" in which she addresses the need for sensory supports, visuals, active learning, "safe space," and materials that capitalize on student strengths. Other topics addressed include defining (and redefining) autism, listening to the voices of those with autism, creating more responsive lessons, making the classroom comfortable, and providing opportunities for communication skill development. The presentation provides teachers with the necessary knowledge and strategies to understand every student as complex, as capable, and as a learner.

"Preventing Special Education Due Process Through Effective Educational Collaboration"
With Patrick Schwarz, Ph.D. 
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Top tips and tools for special education collaborative success will be shared, taught and applied in this interactive workshop.  Areas include effective teaching strategy, information recording, data-progress procedures, interpersonal relationship building, active listening and problem-solving.  Collaboration processes for this workshop are taken from Dr. Schwarz's book, "You're Welcome," which answers the most significant collaboration questions in schools posed by teachers today.  He has been part of many due process procedures serving as an expert witness and has experienced first-hand what is needed to prevent due process.  Dr. Schwarz will use this direct experience in providing the most important and current information for making teaching and recording procedures accountable and effective.  He will also provide you with family, lawyer, hearing officer and courtroom perspectives for a meaningful, important day of immediately applicable information.

Click here to visit the web page

Disobedient, Disruptive, Defiant, and Disturbed Students:
Behavioral Interventions for Challenging Students

With Howard Knoff, Ph.D.

November 22 - 23, 2010

This interactive presentation focuses on how to establish the effective school-wide Positive Behavioral Support (PBS)/Discipline, Behavior Management, School Safety systems (Tier 1) in all schools that increase students' prosocial skills, academic engagement, and academic achievement.  Using this PBS foundation, Strategic (Tier 2) and Intensive (Tier 3) interventions to assist challenging students who are behaviorally unsuccessful or non-responsive then are described.

How to specifically plan, implement, and evaluate Tier 2 behavioral interventions are especially emphasized over the two-day session.  They will be organized to address the need to: (a) Increase or Establish New Student Behaviors; (b) Decrease or Eliminate Inappropriate Student Behaviors; (c) Teach Attention and Engagement Skills; (d) Teach Social, Self-Management, and Self-Control Skills; (e) Increase Student Motivation; and (f) Address Teasing, Taunting, Bullying, Harassment, and Physical Aggression/Fighting.  The specific interventions discussed will be evidence-based, teacher-friendly, and field-tested.

This workshop will provide case examples as appropriate.  For each intervention, the following information will be provided:  (a) Problem Situations where the Intervention is most-used or most useful; (b) functional assessment outcomes that necessarily link to make this intervention relevant; (c) the Age Levels where the Intervention will be most successful; and (d) the Severity Level of the Student and/or Problem where the Intervention will be most successful.

Click here to visit the web page 

Please visit our website for more detailed conference and registration information. More conferences will be coming soon!

Thank you very much,

Spectrum Training Systems
(920) 749-0332
www.SpectrumTrainingSystemsInc.com

Kathe Shelby, Director - Office for Exceptional Children (May 2010)

Information to process school paperwork for Ohio's 4th Annual Special Education Leadership Conference

As the school year is quickly ending, the following is being made available for those interested in participating in the Ohio's Special Education Leadership Conference to use the information to prepare and process any school paperwork needed to participate. Another notice will be sent out when the online registration is ready the week of May 31st.

The theme of Ohio's 4th Annual Special Education Leadership Conference is INCLUSION WORKS! The purpose of the conference is to provide a balanced program of knowledge and skill development about inclusive practices that are based on research and best practice. The conference is being held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 20-21, 2010 and the cost to register is $100.

Click here for a quick look at the options available on Monday, September 20, 2010.

Click here for a brief agenda of the Master Sessions and Breakout Sessions available on Tuesday, September 21, 2010.

Click here for a list of conference hotels.

Click here for information regarding option for a graduate credit for participating in the conference.
NEW in 2010

Individuals who attend Ohio’s 4th Annual Special Education Leadership Conference on September 20th and 21st can earn one graduate credit hour from Ashland University by documenting and meeting attendance requirements (15 contact hours).  Participants may choose among the following options to meet attendance requirements:
Monday September 20th
1.       Attend the pre-conference sessions or a Master Session on Monday morning, and
2.       Attend the General Session on Monday afternoon, and
Tuesday September 21st
     3. Attend two Master Sessions by different presenters on Tuesday, or
         Attend one Master Session and two concurrent sessions on Tuesday, or
         Attend 4 concurrent sessions on Tuesday.
In addition, those desiring the graduate credit must turn in a paper after the conference.  Participants may also be asked to document their review of vendor stations and exhibits to ensure an adequate amount of contact hours. The cost for one graduate credit is $175.00. Registration material will be available on site during the conference. 

For more information, contact:
Caroline Coston
coston-robinson.1@osu.edu 

May 24, 2010

Good afternoon,

This is really a special time of year and one I truly miss now that I am no longer a district superintendent. Students and their families are excited that graduation is just around the corner. For some of them they are already on the road to the next phase of their lives and others may still be struggling to find their way. No matter what path they are walking now, graduation is still a momentous occasion. Many of you will be hosting commencement ceremonies in the coming weeks and I wish your students the best of luck as they begin the next phase of their lives, whether it is college, trade school, the workforce or the military. As educators, we spend our careers and so much of our time trying to help these young people prepare for whatever lies ahead of them, and I know there is a sense of pride (and maybe even some sadness) as you see them off. Know that your focused work on their behalf will contribute greatly to what lies before them. Thanks for caring, for advocating, for being a safe haven to so many of them. (Also, good luck with the ceremony as you hold your breath and wonder if someone has Silly String or a beach ball of other fun disruptive toy hiding under their gown!).

This week, we will be putting the finishing touches on Ohio’s Round 2 Race to the Top (RttT) application. This application is the result of so many folks who jumped in to assist, many of whom have been spending 15 hour days reading the entire document through and through and assisting with final edits and details. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of folks who have initiated their assistance and did not wait for someone to ask them to be part of the process (these are the best kind of helpers!).

I want to thank everyone who has had a hand in helping us put together this application. It wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation of the scores of educators and stakeholders who attended the review sessions hosted by KidsOhio and the Ohio Grantmakers Forum, and the support from KnowlegeWorks and Battelle Memorial Institute which shared their ideas and analysis of our Round 1 application. Additionally we received helpful ideas and suggestions from several Ohio General Assembly members.

The State Board of Education, the Governor, the Chancellor of the Board of Regents, institutions of higher education, state and federal legislators, businesses, non-profits and faith-based communities have all offered their support. In fact, we have received more than 200 letters of support as of this writing!  (If I have failed to mention a group in my prior comment, please forgive me - we have been working many late nights and you can blame either age or exhaustion - just know it is not an intentional oversight!).

Additionally, staff members from the Governor’s office, Board of Regents, and Office of Budget Management joined staff from ODE, OEA, OFT, Ohio Grantmakers, Battelle for Kids, Battelle Institute, KidsOhio, and KnowledgeWorks to review the rewrite and to also edit more times than they would like to remember! These folks, along with countless ODE staff and the 536 districts and community schools that have signed on to be part of our RttT efforts, have my deep appreciation and gratitude as we head into this final week of application completion. MANY MANY THANKS!!!!!

The funding allocation for each participating district and community school has been calculated. You can see the allocation for your district or charter school at www.rttt.education.ohio.gov. These figures were derived from a federal formula that requires each state to use the Title I share of each school to distribute the RttT funds. Ohio schools will receive more than $206 million dollars directly. The State’s share will be used to shore up the participating districts and charter schools work and expand some statewide work.

During this second round, a funding floor was established to support the work of all schools, and 149 districts and community schools took advantage of the funding floor. We are pleased that we were able to provide this critical support for schools willing to be part of our RttT efforts.

One of the overarching goals of RttT, and the State Board of Education is to ensure all students graduate from high school college ready and life prepared. As you may know, the Ohio Board of Regents prepares a report that details how each school district's students perform during their early college years. The report, “High School to College Transition,” is expected to be released publicly later this week. We will be sending instruction to superintendents for accessing the report in advance of the public release. Keep an eye on your inbox!

I hope each of you have an opportunity during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend to gather with friends and family and create new memories. Good luck with your upcoming commencement ceremonies, field days, and end-of-year celebrations.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         Sentinel Career Center earns National School of Character Award
·         Registration is open for Model Curriculum teacher team meetings
·         Open Enrollment data submission process changing
·         Reminder: OLAC Summit precedes Making Ohio Schools Work Conference
·         Spotlight on Otis Elementary School, Fremont City Schools

Sentinel Career Center earns National School of Character Award
Sentinel Career Center in Tiffin was selected last week to receive one of 15 National School of Character (NSOC) awards to be presented by the Character Education Partnership in October. Sentinel is the first career center and the third Ohio school to receive this designation since the national award program began in 1998. Applicants for the NSOC awards undergo a rigorous process requiring at least three years of developing a comprehensive character education program. Award recipients are selected based on their written applications as well as site visits by a panel of judges. The criteria are derived from the partnership’s 11 Principles of Effective Character Education.

Sentinel’s character education program has grown and improved over many years, resulting in increases in student attendance and academic performance as well as decreases in discipline referrals and substance abuse incidents. Congratulations to Sentinel!

To learn more about Sentinel’s program, click here. For more information on character education, click here or contact Lucy Frontera, Ohio Partners in Character Education, at (614) 486-6531, ext. 137, or lucy.frontera@charactereducationohio.org.

Registration is open for Model Curriculum teacher team meetings
Phase I in refining Ohio’s Comprehensive Educational System will be complete in June when the State Board is expected to adopt revisions to Ohio’s academic content standards in science and social studies, as well as the Common Core state standards in English language arts and mathematics. In Phase II, ODE will provide instructional, curricular and assessment guidance and support through a Web-based Model Curriculum. To guide the development of this tool, Educational Service Centers are assisting ODE in holding meetings for teachers in July and early August throughout the state. At the meetings, teacher teams organized by content area in each of 16 regions will be invited to suggest research-based instructional strategies and resources for the Model Curriculum. To provide further guidance for the tool, ODE is collaborating with advisory and working group committees in preparing additional components. The Model Curriculum will be posted for public review this fall.

Registration is now open for the teacher team meetings in STARS for selected regions of the state. Remaining regional schedules will be posted this week. For more information, click here or visit education.ohio.gov, keyword search: Model Curriculum.

Open Enrollment data submission process changing
District Open Enrollment policies allow students to attend school tuition-free in a district other than the district where his or her parents reside. As ODE prepares to complete end-of-year calculations of Open Enrollment credit and deductions in the state’s funding formula, know that for the first time this year, the Department will use Education Management Information System (EMIS) data for this purpose. This online method will replace the traditional paper method used with the previous SF-OE form and allow for more timely adjustments to foundation payments. While ODE finalizes procedures for the new process in the next few weeks, here are steps districts can take now ensure this is a successful transition:

·         Staff members in superintendents’ and treasurers’ offices as well as EMIS coordinators should work together to ensure students are coded correctly in the system. This collaboration can help promote accuracy in all data submitted through EMIS to ODE.
·         Review EMIS data and reports frequently and carefully. Failure to do so may result in reduced payments to districts. Once EMIS closes July 16, ODE cannot reopen the system.
·         Establish good controls for ensuring that data is complete, accurate and submitted on time. Districts that have these practices in place are districts that have no problems in payments throughout the year.
·         Work with fellow districts to resolve any issues and engage area coordinators when necessary to assist in the process.

ODE will not be accepting the paper SF-OE forms to make the Open Enrollment adjustments. District assistance is appreciated as the agency streamlines the data collection and payment processes. More information and business rules will be distributed to district treasurers and posted on the ODE website when finalized. Questions about open enrollment may be directed to area coordinators.

Reminder: OLAC Summit precedes Making Ohio Schools Work Conference
The Ohio Leadership Advisory Council (OLAC) Statewide Leadership Summit on June 14 will immediately precede the eighth annual Making Ohio Schools Work conference on June 15-16 in Columbus. The summit is designed to engage educational leadership teams and strengthen sustained school improvement efforts. Sessions are planned for teams at the district or building level that consist of teachers, superintendents, school board members, educational service center representatives and higher education faculty. Participants will learn how to implement Ohio’s Leadership Development Framework and use OLAC professional development resources to improve practice and student outcomes. Question-and-answer sessions with summit presenters will be offered. ODE, OLAC and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) are co-sponsoring the summit.

The Making Ohio Schools Work conference will feature speakers including Tony Wagner, co-director, Change Leadership Group, Harvard University; and Elle Allison, co-author of Renewal Coaching: Sustainable Change for Individuals and Organizations. Sponsored by BASA and Battelle for Kids, the conference will feature interactive learning labs with national experts and practitioners whose districts and schools are leading change with research-based strategies that accelerate student progress. The learning labs also will feature the free Gallup student engagement survey, ACT end-of-course exams, the National Assessment of Education Progress Questions Tool and the Ready by 21 National Partnership.

Register for the summit and conference online. Participants who meet the requirements are eligible to earn graduate credit. For more information, contact Mary Schultz, (614) 481-3141.

Spotlight on Otis Elementary School, Fremont City Schools
Students, staff and families at Otis Elementary School raised funds this year so that U.S. men and women fighting in the Middle East would receive some green trees to spruce up what one military parent called her 21-year-old son’s “all-brown surroundings.” During the five-day project, the school held a series of baked goods and popcorn sales and other efforts that raised $775, enough to purchase 31 trees through the Trees for Troops program at Sugargrove Tree Farm in Ashland. FedEx, a project co-sponsor, donated the shipping cost for the trees. The project attracted significant support from parents and community members, including a grandfather who stopped by the school to share memories of his overseas military service during an earlier conflict.

Congratulations Otis Elementary for making a difference!

Note: You also may find this document online at education.ohio.gov by searching keyword: EdConnection. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this weekly e-mail or would like to be added to the mailing list, please feel free to contact me at superintendent@ode.state.oh.us.

Follow ODE’s Twitter feed by clicking here.

Kathe Shelby, Director - Office for Exceptional Children (May 2010)

Important notice about this list-serv

The email address that the list-serv messages come from will be changing in the near future. The new email address will be exceptionalchildren@edresourcesohio.org. Please add this email address to your address book or safe senders list to ensure you continue to receive the messages. 

Free Webinars from the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI)

Best Assistive Technology Tools for 2010 Webinar
This webinar provides an exciting opportunity to learn about the newest "very cool" web-based tools for teachers and students. As the academic year winds down, think about "winding up" with OCALI's Nick Weiland and Jim Earnhart for an after school treat on Thursday, May 27. We'll jump-start your 2010-11 school year with a whirlwind tour of some of the very best free technology tools that are available online; yes, we said FREE.
Register for the webinar
Access to the Curriculum Webinar Series
This webinar series will address the challenges that accompany the education of students with intensive disabilities. Over the course of the series a planning framework and tools will be discussed to encourage the building of confidence and competence of all stakeholders in the education of students in the low incidence population.

• Low Incidence Disabilities: Planning for Environments and Curriculum Access
  Part 2 of 4 in the series
  Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
  Register for the webinar

Webinar Archive

• Reach and Teach All Students: Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology - Part 2
  View webinar movie
• Reach and Teach All Students: Universal Design for Learning and Assistive Technology - Part 1
  View webinar movie
• Autism 101
  View webinar 
• Creating an Environment to Maximize Positive Student Behavior
  View webinar | Webinar Handouts (ZIP)
• Introduction to UDL: Universal Design for Learning
  View webinar 

If the links above are not working for you, please go to www.ocali.org to register or access the webinars.

May 17, 2010

Good afternoon,

By now you know I am a huge Cavs fan. Well, between intense work on Race to the Top (RttT) and the disappointment of seeing the Cavs lose the series to the Celtics last Thursday, I am feeling a bit emotionally and intellectually drained! What actually adds to my current misery is that I used to be a huge Celtics fan, having grown up in New England with close ties to Boston. Such frenetic feelings!

Since the losses last Tuesday and Thursday, there has been a lot of talk in the media about the performance of LeBron James and whether or not he will remain committed to Cleveland. A lot of people are criticizing LeBron’s performance, saying it seemed as if he “gave up” and was not playing with the intensity and fire so many had come to expect from him.

Cleveland had a lot of success this season. When you think about it, just a few seasons ago Cleveland was not a competitive team, and now the Cavs seem to be in the championship hunt each year. Most of the success has been attributed to the talent and leadership of LeBron.

Maybe I am tired - or maybe I am simply looking to make sense of it all. However, there seems to be an analogy here for Ohio’s education system. In many situations, we find ourselves looking for a leader in a red cape (or a wicked hook shot) to carry us through the difficult times and win the championship when, in fact, we are actually the leaders who are able to lift others up to a better place. While we might not always like the burdens that leadership brings, it is up to us to embrace the responsibilities of providing a strong vision and pave the path for others to follow. There is no doubt that LeBron has tremendous talent and that he is truly one of the greatest athletes in the world. I find it fascinating, however, that so many people agree on that point, but also comment that “when it counts” he seems to fall short and there is little mention of his teammates’ roles. We all face similar situations in our roles.  When challenges arise, when topics become difficult to address, when actions demand courage, it is easier to look to others to assume responsibility and leave it up to others to take us to a better place. The simple fact is that our students are counting on us to be courageous, to take the first step, to make the right decisions, and to sometimes be uncomfortable in our roles. They want us to bring them to a better place. Being entrusted with a leadership role carries the same weight that, I suspect, LeBron feels in his role. Now more than ever before, Ohio and the nation are at a “when it counts” moment with respect to education.

As you know, Friday was the deadline for districts and community schools to submit Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for RttT and, based on the feedback from our Round 1 application it was one of our primary goals to increase the number of participating LEAs, and grow the number of students reached, for our Round 2 application. I truly appreciate the 533 LEAs who submitted complete MOUs. This number includes 320 districts and 213 community schools. The initiatives proposed in our RttT strategy aim to enhance the education for all of Ohio’s students. I am pleased that the number of participating districts and community schools has increased. The students who will be reached through these LEAs include 65.5 percent of the state’s students living in poverty; 62 percent of the state’s students with disabilities, 80.6 percent of the African American students in the state; and 71.8 percent of Ohio’s Hispanic students. In total, 60.6 percent of Ohio’s students are served by the participating districts and community schools.

Now that all of the MOUs are in, we will be working intensely over the next two weeks to finalize the narratives, budget and appendices of our RttT application. In addition to the funds that will be distributed directly to the districts and community schools that submitted MOUs, our $400 million application also includes initiatives that will support statewide initiatives. A list of participating LEAs is available here. However, we have not yet had a chance to finalize the allocation amounts for each district and community school. We hope to have that information available in the next few days, and will send a special EdConnection when that information becomes available. Our application is due to the U.S. Department of Education on June 1. I will keep you updated on this progress.

During last week’s State Board meeting, the Board awarded a Resolution to Assistant Superintendent Steve Puckett in honor of his upcoming retirement. Steve has worked at ODE since 1980 and has served as assistant superintendent since 1994. He will retire on June 1, 2010. I know many of you have worked with Steve over the years, and I hope you will join me in thanking him for his many years of service to ODE. His dedication, loyalty and commitment to excellence are to be applauded.

With the Memorial Day holiday coming up on May 31, I encourage schools at all levels to plan some type of observance or classroom activity related to this important holiday. There are many ways in which schools can help students recognize the countless contributions our military veterans and active duty personnel have made and continue to make to our country. For example, you can invite local veterans to speak to classes, host a school reception for area veterans and active-duty military personnel, or identify former students who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces. Your local veterans’ organizations may have suggestions for speakers or other activities. For a statewide list of these organizations, click here.

As you read through the important information below, please note the availability of a waiver for portions of the new Credit Flexibility plan. We hope this helps.

Thanks for your willingness to focus on the many needs of our students and their families. You are engaged in, perhaps, the most important role in the world and, everyday, you help to create Ohio’s future. Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         New operational waiver form approved by State Board
·         Credit flexibility waiver is available
·         Web applications to be temporarily unavailable
·         Arts education survey deadline extended
·         Updates announced to Transition Resident Educator Program
·         Register now for the 2010-2011 Real World Design Challenge
·         Session proposals due June 6 for School Improvement Institute
·         Spotlight on Hollingsworth East Elementary School, Eaton Community City Schools

New operational waiver form approved by State Board
House Bill 1 required the State Board to develop criteria for waivers granted under ORC 3306. These include waivers from meeting certain requirements, such as expenditure of funds and operating standards, including minimum school year requirements. The State Board adopted these criteria during its May meeting. Public school districts (excluding community schools), educational service centers and chartered nonpublic schools can apply to ODE for a waiver of state standards, requirements or rules under these new procedures. For information about the new application and  how these changes affect the Innovative Education Pilot Program Waiver, click here, or visit education.ohio.gov and searching for keywords: Operational Waiver.

Credit flexibility waiver is available
School districts may request a one-year waiver for a specific component of the Credit Flexibility Policy if that component proves to be overly challenging and would prevent the district from fully implementing its policy next school year. For the waiver to be granted, the local board of education must pass a resolution requesting the waiver and submit a hard-copy request signed by the local education agency superintendent to ODE no later than July 1.

Click here to view a guidance document, frequently asked questions and an application about this waiver process, or visit education.ohio.gov, keywords search: credit flexibility waiver.

Web applications to be temporarily unavailable
ODE provides a number of online applications for its customers that provide secure environments for activities such as reporting student data or providing information about a specific school district. Currently, ODE is entering the final stages of a project to upgrade its application databases, which will improve performance and reliability. Unfortunately, the work requires application outages that will extend beyond the regular Saturday morning maintenance window:

·         May 22-23: The main application database will be upgraded. Work will begin early Saturday morning and is expected to continue into Sunday. With few exceptions, expect all ODE applications to be unavailable during this weekend. For a complete list of ODE Web applications, click here or on the abbreviation Apps at the top of any Web page at education.ohio.gov.
·         May 26-29: The Interactive Local Report Card and the Secure Data Center applications will be unavailable because the “data warehouse/Education Management Information System (EMIS)” database will be upgraded during this time. The size of the EMIS database requires the upgrade work to begin during the normal business week. Work will begin after normal business hours on Wednesday, May 26, and will continue through Saturday, May 29. Regular EMIS processing will commence on Sunday, May 30, to take advantage of the holiday weekend.

Arts education survey deadline extended
ODE urges school principals who have not yet completed the 2010 Ohio Arts Education Survey to do so by the newly extended deadline of May 28. If a school has not started or completed the survey, the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education has sent the principal a reminder e-mail message with a unique Web address to use in finishing the online questionnaire. Curriculum coordinators and arts education staff can help principals gather the data.

Please complete the survey to help show the value Ohio schools place on quality arts-education programs. If you have not received the survey link, contact Bob Morrison of Quadrant Arts Education Research at bobm@artsedresearch.org.

Updates announced to Transition Resident Educator Program
The Transition Resident Educator Program will be in place again for the 2010-2011 school year before moving into the four-year Resident Educator Program. Below are several important updates. Items in bold are new for this coming year.

·         Mentors who were trained and certified in Instructional Mentoring by ODE-certified trainers during the 2009-2010 school year do not need additional state training to serve as mentors in 2010-2011.
·         Additional Instructional Mentoring sessions will be scheduled regionally over the summer and fall months. Please check STARS regularly, using keywords Instructional Mentoring, for registration details, dates and locations.
·         Program coordinators may register resident educators for the Transition Resident Educator Program in CORE beginning in September 2010. Program coordinators also must include the name of the resident educator’s mentor.
·         To be eligible to participate in the 2010-2011 Transition Resident Educator Program, beginning teachers must:
o        Hold a valid Provisional Teacher License of any type, including a Career Technical Route B license or an Alternative Educator License;
o        Teach at least two classes or .25 FTE in their area of licensure or in the area in which the teacher holds a supplemental teaching license;
o        Be employed by an ODE-chartered educational entity or a preschool licensed by ODE or the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services;
o        Work 120 days as determined by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio; and
o        Be assigned an ODE-certified, trained mentor by their employer.

Be sure to regularly check ODE’s Resident Educator Web page for updated information and contacts.

Register now for the 2010-2011 Real World Design Challenge
High school teachers who want to coach teams in the 2010-2011 Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) can sign up now so that participants can begin practicing with the free software made possible through this national science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition.

Last year, Ohio had the highest number of teams in the nation register for the RWDC, which allows high school teams to design and present fuel-efficient solutions to an aviation problem. Student teams have access to professional engineering mentors from around the country who volunteer for the program. Team members also can download 3-D engineering design and project communications software, which has been improved since last year.

Teachers are advised to begin recruiting local engineering mentors and up to seven students for each school team. If team members are not yet confirmed, teachers can register now and confirm the final listing of participants in the fall. Students may learn more about RWDC by logging into Facebook and searching for Real World Design Challenge.

To register for RWDC and view resource materials, click here. To learn about the software, click here. For more information, contact Ohio RWDC Coordinator Dick Dieffenderfer, at dick.dieffenderfer@ode.state.oh.us or (614) 644-7356.

Session proposals due June 6 for School Improvement Institute
Teachers, school administrators, business professionals, college faculty and community partners are invited to submit presentation proposals by June 6 for the 11th Annual Ohio School Improvement Institute, to be held Nov. 18-19 in Columbus.

Teams or individuals may submit proposals for 60-minute sessions online. Among the more than 40 suggested topic areas related to middle and high school learning are: assessment; programs of study, technology in the classroom, STEM initiatives; inquiry-based instruction; dual-enrollment; and data-driven decisions.

For a complete topic list and a proposal application, click here. For more information, contact Monica Mason, institute coordinator, at monicamason@roadrunner.com. Registration for the institute will be available soon.

Spotlight on Hollingsworth East Elementary School, Eaton Community City Schools
For the past 14 years, Hollingsworth Elementary School in Eaton has conducted the Eagles in Action program, which is named after its school mascot. The program’s purpose is to expose the school’s kindergarten through second-grade students to civic responsibility and community service.

Eagles in Action also reinforces the school’s MegaSkills character education program. The students and staff have participated in a variety of activities, including: recycling; collecting coats, food, personal items and school supplies for people in need; and collecting monetary donations for the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The students also have written letters to nursing home residents and sponsored children in Sierra Leone, Africa. Principal Pam Friesel writes that the program “…has helped our…students learn at an early age the importance of thinking of and giving to others, and that they have the ability to make a difference.”

Congratulations, Hollingsworth, on the wide array of service your students have performed for others this year!

Note: You also may find this document online at education.ohio.gov by searching keyword: EdConnection. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this weekly e-mail or would like to be added to the mailing list, please feel free to contact me at superintendent@ode.state.oh.us.

Kathe Shelby, Director - Office for Exceptional Children (April 2010)

The Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children is seeking talented education professionals!
 
Six new, full-time Education Consultant 3 positions are open in our office. We hope to obtain a talented pool of applicants! The positions recently posted are:
School Psychology Consultant (Position Number 20079638)
Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant (Position Number 20079632)
Low Incidence Disabilities Consultant (Position Number 20079636)
Low Incidence Disabilities Consultant-Serious Emotional Development Issues (Position Number 20079634)

Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Consultant (Position Number 20079640)
Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology Consultant (Position Number 20079637)
To apply for one of these positions, visit http://careers.ohio.gov and submit an application and resume. To find the position descriptions, click State of Ohio Government Jobs, then select “Education” in the Category box and Agency box of the Search Criteria section.
 
Please note that the ODE/OEC cannot accept applications and resumes sent directly to our office. Positions must be applied for through the Careers Ohio site. If you are aware of qualified, talented professionals who would be interested in an opportunity to join our office staff, please share this information with them.

What is CISAM??

The Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials (CISAM) is a statewide project funded by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children. CISAM’s role is to assist school personnel in locating large print and braille textbooks; audio and digital textbooks (publishers’ files/NIMAS files); instructional aids and tools; and specialized equipment for students with visual impairments and print disabilities in Ohio.

CISAM Provides:

•Professional Development;
•Technical Assistance;
•Braille Excellence for Students and Teachers (BEST) Grant;
•Statewide Braille Production Center Services;
•Federal Quota Program;
•Listservs: VI Educators, VI Requestors and Transcribers; and
•Brailler Repair.
For additional information, contact CISAM at (800) 310-3317.
CISAM Spring Circular: http://www.ossb.oh.gov/CISAM/docs/Newsletters/Spring2010Circular.pdf 
 

May 10, 2010
 
Good afternoon,
 
I hope each of you was able to celebrate Mother’s Day in a special way over the weekend. As a mom, I know this day offers a time to reflect on the influence of our mothers as well as the moments (especially the easy ones!) that we have shared with our own children. This is certainly the one day when I definitely wish my son did not live so far away (although the extensive phone call, the flowers and the special note in his card were greatly appreciated!!!).
 
We are continuing our exhaustive work on the second round application for Race to the Top (RttT). As you are aware, the MOUs are due on Friday, May 14 at 4:00 p.m. Unfortunately, there will not be any exceptions to this deadline. I hope each of you is planning to submit an MOU by Friday. Late last week, we posted an RttT “Myths and Facts” document at www.rttt.education.ohio.gov. I hope this document provides a bit of clarity as to how Ohio’s RttT strategy will impact individuals at the local level.
 
It is clear from the reviewers during Round 1 that the numbers of participating LEAs in Ohio must be increased in order to meet the expectations at the national level. For those LEAs that signed on during Round 1, I sincerely hope that you will be submitting a second MOU by Friday afternoon. For those LEAs that did not participate during Round 1, I hope that you are carefully working through conversations in your settings to attain a signed MOU by Friday.
 
Last week, the Ohio Grantmakers Forum and KidsOhio hosted an RttT review and editorial session at COSI in Columbus. More than 100 individuals from around the state, representing groups including teachers, businesses, philanthropic organizations, school leaders, legislators and parents attended the session. These individuals formed teams tasked with helping ODE to develop strategies for strengthening Ohio’s RttT application. I was awestruck by the level of commitment and interest these individuals demonstrated in their work and approach. It was truly a demonstration of how collectively, we can come together to resolve some difficult issues, which is the ultimate goal of RttT.
 
We will continue to update the list of participating districts and community schools on our website. I am hopeful we will be able to increase the number of participants during Round 2. Even if we are unsuccessful in meeting that goal, I am confident we will be able to craft an application that shows we are impacting a significant number of students. Ultimately, I believe that once the RttT strategy is implemented, and we are able to demonstrate the success and gains our students are making, even those with reservations about signing an MOU will be asking how these programs can be replicated in their schools.
 
Today at the State Board meeting, President Deborah Cain and I have the pleasure of recognizing the three newest Ohio Schools to Watch. These three buildings represent some of Ohio’s most effective schools serving students in the middle grades. They are Ankeney Middle School of Beavercreek City Schools, Nagel Middle School of Forest Hills Local Schools and Wadsworth Middle School of Wadsworth City Schools.
 
Pictured below are the representatives from each school and their State Board of Education representatives, as well as State Board President Deborah Cain and myself.
 
Ankeney Middle School
 
Nagel Middle School
Wadsworth Middle School

 
The Ohio Schools to Watch program began in 2004-05 as a recognition and capacity-building program sponsored by ODE, the Ohio Middle Level Association, Otterbein College and the Ohio Federation of Teachers. The 20 schools that have earned the Ohio Schools to Watch designation since the program’s inception demonstrate four important characteristics: academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and supportive organizational structure and processes. It is exciting to meet these innovative educators and to learn about the many initiatives they are spearheading around the state. Many congratulations to the administrators, teachers and students at these outstanding schools!
 
Hopefully, the sun and warmer weather will blanket Ohio this week. Have a wonderful week as you head into the closing of yet another school year. The next few weeks will fly past all of us!
 
 
Sincerely,
 

 
Here are additional items that may be of interest:
 
·         GRADS program funding approved
·         eTech Ohio presents free webinars in May
·         Javits program offers professional development in gifted education
·         Report on runaway youth to offer helpful research and resources
·         Spotlight on Timmons Elementary School, Kenston Local Schools
 
GRADS program funding approved
Changes made in Ohio Senate Bill 155 allow more career-technical programs to receive funding for Graduation, Reality And Dual-role Skills (GRADS) programs. GRADS is an in-school instructional and intervention initiative that supports graduation success for pregnant and parenting (male and female) teens in grades 7-12 at city, local, exempted village, contract/compact and vocational school districts.
 
As of March 31, Senate Bill 155 makes GRADS funding available in FY2010 and FY2011 for all three types of the state’s 91 Career-Technical Planning Districts (CTPDs) – joint vocational schools, comprehensives and compacts. The previous version of the bill addressed only joint vocational school GRADS funding. CTPDs use the FY2009 career-technical weighted-funding base with a 0.75 percent increase applied on the Pathway to Student Success form, the annual payment report formerly known as the SF-3.
 
In January, it was decided that community schools that had an approved GRADS programs in FY2009 would receive career-technical weighted funding at 0.28 FTE weight in FY2010. This funding will be deducted from the student’s resident school district. For more information, contact MaryJo Kohl, Office of Career Technical Education, at (614) 644-6333 or maryjo.kohl@ode.state.oh.us.
 
eTech Ohio presents free webinars in May
Each Tuesday during May, eTech Ohio is presenting Web-based professional development programs for educators. Upcoming interactive programs include:
 
·         May 11, 11 a.m. to noon – Personal Learning Networks – Will Richardson, author of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, will describe how participants can create and support online communities.
 
·         May 18, noon to 1 p.m. – 21st Century Readiness for Every Student – Ken Kay, president of the 21st Century Skills Partnership, will explain why and how districts are launching new educational initiatives to meet the demands of the global economy.
 
·         May 25, 11 a.m. – Using Tools and Data to Improve Student Achievement – Tim Dugan, director of school improvement, Princeton City Schools, will help participants better utilize data from the Success and Value-Added websites with the latest MeasureUp tool.
 
No registration is required, but participants should check the sessions’ technical requirements in advance. Participation is limited for the live sessions. However, Webinars will be posted online after the series is complete. For more information, click here.
 
Javits program offers professional development in gifted education
Districts looking for free, online professional development opportunities regarding gifted and talented education should consider taking advantage of the ODE Javits program at http://javits.etech.ohio.gov. With support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Program, ODE developed this training series, which is administered through eTech Ohio.
 
The website features audience-specific modules for classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, administrators and parents. Users also will find strategies for differentiated instruction and information to help districts meet local, state and federal requirements for high-quality professional development. It is best to use the site with guidance from a gifted coordinator or gifted intervention specialist. However, anyone may use the modules as part of a district-approved professional development program. For more information, contact ODE’s Office for Exceptional Children at gifted@ode.state.oh.us or (614) 466-2650.
 
Report on runaway youth to offer helpful research and resources
According to a report that will be released by the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) this Wednesday, nearly 80 percent of runaway and at-risk youth prefer speaking to a real person – rather than “texting” someone – when they need help. Titled Why They Run: An In-depth Look at America’s Runaway Youth, the report indicates that nearly 45 percent of runaway and at-risk youth attend school, with 70 percent of these students attending regularly. Through the report, NRS aims to collaborate with schools and social service providers to reverse the runaway trend, and explore ways of reaching youth that are real, relevant and effective.
 
NRS offers resources that schools can share with students and families to help prevent and cope with the runaway problem. Visit www.1800runaway.org for information about the NRS crisis hotline, as well as curriculum materials, posters, articles and brochures. For more information, call 1-800-RUNAWAY.
 
Spotlight on Timmons Elementary School, Kenston Local Schools
This year, teachers, students and families at Timmons Elementary School in Chagrin Falls participated in the One School, One Book program and read Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DeCamillo. In this story about Opal, a 10-year-old girl who adopts a stray dog named Winn Dixie, Timmons readers learned how the relationship between child and pet helps Opal gain the courage to learn about the mother who abandoned her at age 3.
 
In keeping with the theme of Because of Winn Dixie, Timmons planned a series of activities focusing on the needs of stray animals. Among other activities, they made homemade dog treats and collected blankets, pet food and other pet supply items for the Geauga County Dog Shelter. Correspondence with the book’s author, daily contests and a visit by therapy dogs and their handlers at school also reinforced the book’s lessons. To learn more about the One School, One Book program, visit the Read to Them website, which features Timmons as the program’s Model School of the Year. Congratulations Timmons on your worthwhile efforts!
 
Note: You also may find this document online at education.ohio.gov by searching keyword: EdConnection. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this weekly e-mail or would like to be added to the mailing list, please feel free to contact me at superintendent@ode.state.oh.us.
 
Follow ODE’s Twitter feed by clicking here.

Kathe Shelby, Director - Office for Exceptional Children (April 2010)

The Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children is seeking talented education professionals!

Five new, full-time Education Consultant positions are open in our Monitoring and Procedural Safeguards sections. If you are aware of qualified, talented professionals who would be interested in an opportunity to join our office staff, please share this information with them. We hope to obtain a talented pool of applicants!

To apply for one of these positions, visit http://careers.ohio.gov and submit an application and resume. To find the position descriptions, click State of Ohio Government Jobs, then select “Education” in the Category box and Agency box of the Search Criteria section.

Please note that the ODE/OEC cannot accept applications and resumes sent directly to our office.

These job postings close on May 3, 2010.

Registration for the Principals' Academy on Sept. 20 is now open!

The Principals' Academy, sponsored by the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) and the Ohio Assocation of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA), will provide administrators the opportunity to learn the skills and inspiration to lead staff member in implementing more inclusive practices while taking into consideration the many factors facing administrators. There are separate sessions for Elementary and Secondary Principals.

Register here: http://edresourcesohio.org/index.php?slug=principal-academy-registration

Remember: ODE Javits: I-GET-GTEd a valuable gifted education professional development resource

If your district is looking for free, online professional development opportunities regarding gifted education, consider taking advantage of ODE Javits: I-GET-GTEd at http://javits.etech.ohio.gov. ODE developed this training series with support from the U.S. Department of Education’s Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Program and administers the resource through eTech Ohio. The site contains specific modules for classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, administrators and parents, each designed to help meet gifted and talented students’ needs. Users also will find strategies for differentiated instruction and information to help districts meet local, state and federal requirements for high quality professional development. It is best to use the site with guidance from a gifted coordinator or gifted intervention specialist. However, anyone may use ODE Javits as part of a district-approved professional development program. For additional information e-mail ODE’s Office for Exceptional Children at gifted@ode.state.oh.us.  

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

The items below are non-ODE items of interest.

News and Information from the Ohio Department of Mental Health

Kids Newsletter Spring 2010 - Building Ohio's Future: http://mentalhealth.ohio.gov/assets/children-youth-families/newsletter-201004.pdf

Web site launches to engage youth who have emotional challenges and to support families

ODMH is pleased to announce www.ResiliencyOhio.org, a new site to educate families on mental health issues, alleviate stigma and connect youth to resources that can help. Life stories and personal journeys are shared through a video on the site to demonstrate the fundamental role of resiliency in supporting mental wellness.

Learning Through Listening Web site provides free lesson plans, teaching strategies and resources to meet the needs of diverse learners

The Learning Through Listening Web site is designed for K–12 educators and provides free lesson plans, activities, teaching strategies and other resources to help you teach critical listening skills and meet the needs of diverse learners in your classroom. The site is provided by Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) and is an extension of 50-plus years of nonprofit service, research and success in developing audio and listening support resources for individuals who cannot access the curriculum through standard print.

http://www.learningthroughlistening.org/

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) to Review Research on Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities

A new topic area from the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) will give educators the tools needed to make important decisions about curriculums, products and classroom methods. The Early Childhood Education for Children with Disabilities topic area will review research related to improving the school readiness of 3- to 5-year-old children with disabilities. The first report looks at the research on dialogic reading, an interactive reading practice which uses picture books designed to enhance language and literacy skills.

Visit whatworks.ed.gov to learn more about this new area and see which intervention reports are coming out soon.   

District Superintendents, School Board Presidents, and Union Leaders:

Ohio schools, educators and students have a unique opportunity through Race to the Top to benefit from federal resources that will augment our state’s education reform efforts and reaffirm our lead role in education policy.  As you know, this process has been and will continue to be extremely competitive. Ohio was a strong finalist in the first round, but we need more districts on board to further strengthen our second round submission. That’s why we’re strongly encouraging you to consider submitting a second round memorandum of understanding by May 14.

Your engagement in this process shows the strength of our education system and the opportunities that lie ahead for our students. With increased school district participation, Ohio will craft an even stronger second round application of which we can all be proud. To those districts that participated in the first round, we thank you. We hope we can count on you to submit your memorandum of understanding for this important second round application, and also serve as a resource to neighboring districts that are still considering participation.           

Winning the Race to the Top competition will provide Ohio with an exciting opportunity to accelerate the reforms in our new education law and demonstrate our leadership in education. We all want to ensure that Ohio has a place in framing the national conversation on education transformation.  Our participation in this competition will reflect this commitment.

Please know that participating in Race to the Top will not require your district to implement multiple new initiatives because the priorities of Ohio’s new education law and Race to the Top components are aligned. It is important for you to know that Race to the Top is not about implementing “merit pay” or superseding collective bargaining agreements.  Also, if we secure these funds, all districts will be able to take advantage of tools and resources developed through designated statewide Race to the Top initiatives. These resources will augment district-specific awards, and will assist districts in implementing initiatives, such as professional development opportunities to support our teachers and principals in the important work they do every day.

Ohio’s second Race to the Top application will be even stronger, but we need additional participation from our school districts, particularly those challenged with achievement gaps and poverty. We’re in this competition together, and it’s important that our schools show a united front.  Our overarching mission for education in Ohio is ensuring that our kids have the best opportunities to learn and succeed, regardless of where in the state they grow up. Our students are counting on us to prepare them for their future, not our present. Winning Race to the Top resources would further this mission. 

We are grateful for your support. Together, let’s bring $400 million back to Ohio’s students and schools. Please e-mail RttT@ode.state.oh.us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Ted Strickland, Governor
State of Ohio                         

Deborah Delisle, State Superintendent
Ohio Department of Education

Patricia Frost-Brooks, President
Ohio Education Association                     

Sue Taylor, President
Ohio Federation of Teachers

Richard Lewis, Executive Director
Ohio School Boards Association          

Jerry L. Klenke, Executive Director
Buckeye Association of School Administrators             
                           

May 3, 2010

Good afternoon,

In today’s EdConnection I mentioned that I would be sending out a separate update on Race to the Top (RttT). There is some important information to share, and I want to be certain this information was delivered in a separate communication to receive as much attention as possible.

Based on feedback from LEAs concerning the timing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process, and other issues such as the impending levies, we are now asking that all MOUs be submitted by May 14 at 4:00 p.m. This will give districts and community schools eligible for the funding floor more time to submit their MOU. However, we are still encouraging all LEAs to submit their MOUs as soon as possible. I do need to stress that no MOUs will be accepted after the 4:00 deadline on May 14 due to the work that is necessary around the budget and the sets of data that must be created.

We have already received more than 100 complete MOUs from districts and community schools. A complete list of those districts and community schools with complete MOUs is available at rttt.education.ohio.gov. We are updating the list each morning. On our website, you will also find information about completing the MOU. It is extremely important to realize the MOU is six pages long and signatures are required on pages 3, 4, and 6. We will make every attempt to contact you in the event that we receive an incomplete MOU.

Last week, we held two conference calls to discuss important parts of the MOU - Great Teachers and Leaders and Turning Around Low Achieving Schools. I would like to thank the representatives from OEA and OFT who collaborated with us on the calls. I think it was important that educators in the field heard multiple perspectives on RttT. There seem to be some recurring concerns which continue to surface in the area of Great Teachers and Leaders. I would like to reiterate what was said during the calls.

RttT does NOT:
·         implement nor require a statewide or local system of merit pay for teachers.
·         end tenure.
·         mandate involuntary transfers.
·         override local decisions about compensation.

The initiatives in RttT will be carried out through local work plans which cover the four years of the grant. It is not expected that participating LEAs will complete their implementation during the first year of the grant.

In addition to information provided during the conference calls, we also posted a “crosswalk” document at rttt.education.ohio.gov that highlights how RttT, the education reform initiatives in House Bill 1 and the current blueprint for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act all align. I encourage you to review this document and share it with your school communities. Hopefully this document will demonstrate that RttT aligns with work and processes that are already, or might be, required of our schools and districts. I hope this will help ease any trepidation you might have about joining our RttT efforts.

This process is arduous for all of us. I recognize that during the last few weeks (months really!) you have been bombarded with information, clarification, requests and calls for assistance.   This is an important decision that you must make in concert with others in your educational organization. Certainly, I hope that every LEA gives serious consideration to participating in Round 2 of the RttT grant process.  The additional federal dollars will certainly benefit work that is already required of us through HB1 and provide professional development for many areas of transformation. 

Please, do not hesitate to contact ODE at rttt@ode.state.oh.us with any questions. We will be glad to provide you with any assistance you might require.

Have wonderful week!

Sincerely,

May 3, 2010

Good afternoon,

In today’s EdConnection I mentioned that I would be sending out a separate update on Race to the Top (RttT). There is some important information to share, and I want to be certain this information was delivered in a separate communication to receive as much attention as possible.

Based on feedback from LEAs concerning the timing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) process, and other issues such as the impending levies, we are now asking that all MOUs be submitted by May 14 at 4:00 p.m. This will give districts and community schools eligible for the funding floor more time to submit their MOU. However, we are still encouraging all LEAs to submit their MOUs as soon as possible. I do need to stress that no MOUs will be accepted after the 4:00 deadline on May 14 due to the work that is necessary around the budget and the sets of data that must be created.

We have already received more than 100 complete MOUs from districts and community schools. A complete list of those districts and community schools with complete MOUs is available at rttt.education.ohio.gov. We are updating the list each morning. On our website, you will also find information about completing the MOU. It is extremely important to realize the MOU is six pages long and signatures are required on pages 3, 4, and 6. We will make every attempt to contact you in the event that we receive an incomplete MOU.

Last week, we held two conference calls to discuss important parts of the MOU - Great Teachers and Leaders and Turning Around Low Achieving Schools. I would like to thank the representatives from OEA and OFT who collaborated with us on the calls. I think it was important that educators in the field heard multiple perspectives on RttT. There seem to be some recurring concerns which continue to surface in the area of Great Teachers and Leaders. I would like to reiterate what was said during the calls.

RttT does NOT:
·         implement nor require a statewide or local system of merit pay for teachers.
·         end tenure.
·         mandate involuntary transfers.
·         override local decisions about compensation.

The initiatives in RttT will be carried out through local work plans which cover the four years of the grant. It is not expected that participating LEAs will complete their implementation during the first year of the grant.

In addition to information provided during the conference calls, we also posted a “crosswalk” document at rttt.education.ohio.gov that highlights how RttT, the education reform initiatives in House Bill 1 and the current blueprint for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act all align. I encourage you to review this document and share it with your school communities. Hopefully this document will demonstrate that RttT aligns with work and processes that are already, or might be, required of our schools and districts. I hope this will help ease any trepidation you might have about joining our RttT efforts.

This process is arduous for all of us. I recognize that during the last few weeks (months really!) you have been bombarded with information, clarification, requests and calls for assistance.   This is an important decision that you must make in concert with others in your educational organization. Certainly, I hope that every LEA gives serious consideration to participating in Round 2 of the RttT grant process.  The additional federal dollars will certainly benefit work that is already required of us through HB1 and provide professional development for many areas of transformation. 

Please, do not hesitate to contact ODE at rttt@ode.state.oh.us with any questions. We will be glad to provide you with any assistance you might require.

Have wonderful week!

Sincerely,

May 3, 2010

Good afternoon,

I certainly hope you were able to enjoy some of the weekend. I know that this time of year brings many additional responsibilities and your attendance at many of these events definitely extends your work!

This is the beginning of an important week for so many of us for so many reasons. Tomorrow, more than 170 school issues will appear on ballots statewide. I wish those of you going before your voters the best of luck. I know the amount of time it takes to work through levy issues and so often this work goes unnoticed. Applause to you for surviving yet another round of levies.  Again, my best wishes to your districts as you eagerly await the election returns.

Applause to all of our teachers as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, which begins today. Tomorrow is the official Teacher Appreciation Day established by the National Education Association and the National Parent Teachers Association. Although it is important to show our gratitude to teachers throughout the year, it is appropriate that this week-long commemoration calls special attention to the meaningful contributions our nation’s educators make in the lives of the students they teach. I congratulate all teachers for providing our children with a high-quality education and for serving as effective role models. What you do every day truly matters!

Today also has been designated by our state legislature as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Join me and all Ohioans in recognizing and thanking more than 20,000 school bus drivers who safeguard Ohio’s students as they travel to and from their daily school programs. Nearly 1 million children and their families benefit from the skill, professionalism and caring services provided by these dedicated school employees. To many of our students, the bus driver’s face is the first one they see. We know that the big smiles that greet them as students board their buses can have a significant impact on the kind of day they have. Thanks to our bus drivers for the smiles, the attention to safety and the encouragement they so generously offer to students every day.

ODE has received a number of questions about the fiscal years 2012- 2013 state budget because districts are working on updates to their five-year budget forecast that are due by May 28. At this time, ODE has not received any information regarding the availability of funds for education during the 2012-2013 biennium.

We have received a number of requests to comment on forecast projections and provide estimates for the next biennium. At this time, we are unable to provide districts with any specific figures. It is our recommendation that you consider a range of possibilities when creating your forecast from one in which state revenues remain constant to one that reflects state revenue reductions. While there is no clear direction ODE can provide, given our lack of direction and information, we recognize that you will need to consider your local context (i.e. if a levy seems inevitable) when developing this forecast. Please remember that all five year forecasts submitted to ODE should include concise and careful explanations of the assumptions used for the revenue projections and acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the state revenue projections in the footnotes.

Treasurers will receive specific reminders regarding the procedures for submitting the forecasts via ODE’s upcoming School Finance E-Newsletter. Because ODE must receive the updates by 10 a.m. on Friday, May 28 to meet the Ohio Administrative Code May 31 deadline, districts should work with their Information Technology Centers to ensure that the data is submitted in advance of the final submission date.

You might notice one topic absent from this edition of EdConnection – Race to the Top – which will be addressed in a Special Update you will be receiving later this afternoon.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         Space still available for May 11 free conference featuring national experts
·         Credit flexibility Web sessions to feature assessment and case studies
·         New SAMHSA grant applications for classroom behavior program due May 20
·         ODE to co-host National Conference for Elementary School Principals
·         Spotlight on Hastings Middle School, Upper Arlington Schools

Space still available for May 11 free conference featuring national experts
Two prominent, nationally known speakers will highlight the agenda at a free program that ODE is presenting for administrators and teachers on May 11. Charlotte Danielson is an education consultant specializing in teacher quality and evaluation, curriculum planning, performance assessment and professional development who has written many books supporting educators. Joseph F. Murphy will describe 10 critical action steps derived from his newly released book, The Educator’s Handbook for Understanding and Closing Achievement Gaps.

Representatives from ODE, higher education and several school districts also will lead sessions on topics such as the Resident Educator program for beginning teachers, the new tiered educator licensure structure, tools for facilitating school collaboration and sustainable action plans based on student data. Titled Leading the Way to High Achievement: Systems for Building Leader Effectiveness, the program will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at OCLC in Dublin. It is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. For further details and to register, click here or visit education.ohio.gov and click on the link featuring Charlotte Danielson’s name. Questions may be directed to Vivian Brewer at (614) 466-5574 or vivian.brewer@ode.state.oh.us.

Credit flexibility Web sessions to feature assessment and case studies
ODE continues to add resources for helping schools and districts prepare to implement credit flexibility plans. Web conferences featuring assessment and case studies employing technology are scheduled this month:

·         Friday, May 7, 10 to 11 a.m. – Assessment Tips – Stan Heffner, associate superintendent for the Center for Curriculum and Instruction, and Mark Hartman, senior director at Battelle for Kids, will discuss ideas educators can consider as they select approaches for the demonstration-based portions of credit flexibility. Also known as testing for credit or testing into next-level learning, these demonstration-based aspects help ensure the quality of the assessment experience. Participants will learn from sample scenarios and considerations as outlined in ODE’s Credit Flexibility Guidance. They also will hear a discussion about how to determine if students are demonstrating the content and skills outlined in the academic content standards.

·         Monday, May 17, 2 to 3 p.m. – Teacher-led Credit Flex Initiatives Using Technology – Teachers are seeing opportunities to serve students differently with credit flexibility and are initiating pilot practices in their schools, some of which are featured on the new ODE case study Web page. Educators from two of the case studies – Delaware Area Career Center and New Boston Local Schools – will describe how they are using technology as part of blended instruction. Mary Beth Freeman, superintendent, Tamara Hall, director of secondary operations, and Kelly Kohl, architecture teacher, will represent the Delaware Area Career Center. Mike Staggs, superintendent, and Beth Smith, Glenwood High language arts teacher, will describe New Boston’s efforts.

To register for the sessions, click here or search keywords: credit flexibility conference from any ODE Web page. Access recordings of past credit flexibility Web conferences on this same Web page. For more resources, click here.

New SAMHSA grant applications for classroom behavior program due May 20
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a request for applications (RFA) for the grant program titled Implementing Evidence-Based Prevention Practices in Schools. The program’s purpose is to prevent aggressive, disruptive behavior among primary-grade children and avoid later antisocial behavior and illicit drug use. Grantees will implement an evidence-based practice in schools titled The Good Behavior Game, a classroom-management strategy that helps children learn how to work together. The program has proven effective in decreasing disruptive classroom behaviors and facilitating positive learning environments.

All local educational agencies are eligible to apply. Districts are encouraged to consider applying and connecting the initiative to their Family and Civic Engagement work. Grant activities can further partnerships between districts and their Family and Children First councils. Applications are due May 20. For more information about the RFA, click here.

ODE to co-host National Conference for Elementary School Principals
Elementary school principals, superintendents, curriculum directors and other early-learning leaders are encouraged to register for the conference titled Ready Schools: Your Leadership in Systems that Help Young Learners to Thrive. The event, which is the second annual National Conference for Elementary School Principals, is co-sponsored by ODE and the Massachusetts-based Community Advocates for Young Learners (CAYL) Institute.

Sessions will focus on how schools can serve children of diverse cultures, linguistic abilities and learning experiences. The conference will offer talks by national experts and feature Ohio’s Ready Schools Initiative, with principals of Ohio Ready Schools leading selected break-out sessions. This initiative focuses on helping schools get the conditions right so that entering kindergarten students will succeed. An early care and education facility visit also is on the agenda. Click here to visit the CAYL Institute Web site and access a conference brochure and registration options. Payment is due by June 8 for individuals or groups using purchase orders.

Spotlight on Hastings Middle School, Upper Arlington Schools
This year, Hastings Middle School in central Ohio held its first annual Hastings Outreach Program kickoff event, where school and community leaders inspired the audience to demonstrate caring for others and respect for the environment. As a result, more than 450 students, teachers and parents conducted various projects, which were supported by Ohio Learn and Serve mini-grants.

After learning about the ecology of watersheds, Hastings’ sixth graders applied “no dumping” stickers to storm basins and provided information to community residents about the impact of pouring non-water items in street drains. Seventh graders traveled to Alum Creek to assist in planting and building projects including a clean-up along stream banks. Eighth graders partnered with LifeCare Alliance to serve meals and visit seniors. In addition to playing games and dancing with their elders, students learned about the organizations that meet challenges related to poverty, hunger and care for the elderly. Congratulations to the Hastings students, teachers and parents for their worthwhile efforts to serve others.

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