Good afternoon,

I cannot recall any single week of my professional career that was as exciting, never-wrecking and exhausting as last week. From awaiting word on Race to the Top to the finalization of the release of the state and local report cards to working through the many details associated with the Ed Jobs bill, ODE was abuzz with activity just as your districts and schools were as you welcomed students and staff to a new school year.

Tuesday was a great day as we were informed at about 11:10 a.m. that Ohio was selected to receive $400M in Race to the Top (RttT) funds over the course of the next four years. I want to thank everyone who engaged in the up-front work: assisting in the analysis of Round 1 reviewers’ comments; engaging in focus groups to clarify Ohio’s RttT strategy; writing; editing; checking data; compiling appendices; and working at local levels to gain the support necessary to submit an MOU. My gratitude is immense and I consider the victors to be our students. There is no doubt that the work that lies ahead will be difficult, complex and, at times, quite frustrating. However, the future of our students depends upon our collaboration and collective wisdom. So, I thank you for what has been accomplished to this day and also for your willingness to be courageous leaders as we move ahead.

Later this week, on Sept. 1, at 3 p.m., we will be hosting a webinar for the teams from RttT participating schools who will be developing the Final Scope of Work for their school district or community school. It is critical that the superintendent, board president and union president (if applicable) are able to participate in this webinar. All participating LEAs should have received an e-mail last week containing important access information for the webinar. If you are a participating LEA, and did not receive the information, you may request it by emailing rttt@ode.state.oh.us. During the next two months (a time frame determined by federal regulations), the development of the Final Scope of Work must be completed so ODE may begin the federally required review process. For this reason, I request that all administrators in participating LEAs allow members of the development team to participate in this informational session.

Another important activity last week was the finalization of details for the release of state and local report cards. On Friday, the official State and Local Report Card results were released. Congratulations to all educators, parents and students for significant improvements in several areas this year. More districts than ever achieved ratings of effective or higher, which is a direct result of your intense focus on data that translates into earnest work you and your students do each day. I sincerely hope that these improvements continue at a steady pace so that our students find success in their endeavors.

Although there are certainly areas of improvement to celebrate, there are also some concerning items. Two of the most problematic are the decline in the graduation rate and that no statewide indicators were met by fifth-grade students. Clearly, these are areas where we must improve. Additionally, achievement in mathematics and science continues to plague our students.

You can view the state, district and building report cards by visiting www.reportcard.ohio.gov

ODE staff also spent a significant amount of time last week working with Governor Strickland’s office and the Office of Budget and Management in reviewing the Education Jobs Fund (Ed Jobs) legislative details and preparing Ohio’s application. We expect to have estimated district allocations available on the ODE’s Ed Jobs Information page later this week. We will notify you when the allocations are available.

Ohio will submit its application for these funds before the Sept. 9 deadline. The USDOE has informed us that funds will be available to the state within two weeks of submitting the application (if all requirements are complete). After our application is approved, we will begin the process of allocating funds through the CCIP.

While the Ed Jobs program is rolling out the funds for 2010-11, please note that these funds may be expended through Sept. 30, 2012. Also, these funds may not be used for general administrative expenses. ODE has created a Web page with answers to frequently asked questions about the Ed Jobs bill and has a dedicated e-mail address, edjobs@ode.state.oh.us, to which districts may direct additional inquiries.

Finally, I am sending a big shout-out to the Olentangy High School (Olentangy School District) show choir. Imagine my surprise when, reading the paper and enjoying a cup of coffee on Sunday morning, I saw a wonderful piece about the district’s very talented show choir on the CBS Sunday morning program. CONGRATS to these talented students and to the adults who nurture these blossoming stars! The students’ reactions and comments were refreshing.

Enjoy these fleeting days of summer. While it is becoming quite warm again, know that those pesky snowflakes will be descending soon!

Have an awesome and memorable week!

Best,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         Reminder: calamity days reduced for 2010-2011
·         Applications available online for 2011 Ohio Teacher of the Year
·         Schools may apply for grants to defray travel costs to Statehouse
·         eTech Ohio offers Google SketchUp Pro licensing opportunity
·         Want quick access to Ohio educator data?
·         Fifth Quarterly ARRA Reporting Period for Calendar Year 2010, Third Quarter begins Wednesday
·         Please submit suggestions for Spotlight feature on community service

Reminder: calamity days reduced for 2010-2011
As you are aware, in past years, school districts operating with the minimum school year calendar were required to make up days when the number of calamity day closures exceeded five. House Bill 1 has reduced to three the number of calamity days that can be used before make-up is required. Most districts have adjusted their school calendars to reflect this new regulation, so this serves as just a friendly reminder.

Applications available online for 2011 Ohio Teacher of the Year
School districts, community schools and chartered nonpublic schools are encouraged to submit up to three applications to ODE for the Ohio Teacher of the Year honor. Nominees must be outstanding classroom teachers in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 who are engaged in the direct teaching of students and plan to continue in an active teaching role. The application and details about the selection process are available here. The application deadline is Sept. 30. The 2010 Ohio Teacher of the Year is Natalie Wester, a third-grade teacher at Gearity Professional Development School in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools.

Schools may apply for grants to defray travel costs to Statehouse
The 2010-2011 School Bus Transportation Program will begin accepting online applications beginning at 9 a.m. this Wednesday for grants to defray travel costs for Statehouse school trips this school year. The grants are open to any Ohio school that receives state funding and will be planning a Statehouse trip(s) for students in grades 4-12. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation conduct the transportation grant program.

The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the order in which qualifying applications are received. A total of 240 grants will be made available, with 80 grants awarded in each of three categories based on proximity to the Statehouse. Note that the application process, which is only available online, closed very quickly last year due to high interest in the program. For more information and to apply for the grants, click here. Direct questions on the grant to CSRAB at (614) 752-9777. To schedule a Statehouse tour, call (614) 728-2695.

eTech Ohio offers Google SketchUp Pro licensing opportunity
Through an agreement with Google, eTech Ohio is offering free Google SketchUp Pro 7 licenses to all public and chartered nonpublic Ohio K-12 schools at no cost. This software is a 3D design program that normally retails at $495 per license. The program has wide applicability throughout school curricula, but is particularly useful for learning opportunities in fine arts; mapping activities for social studies; and for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classrooms.

Each district will have the opportunity to access 300 network and 50 stand-alone licenses that will expire on July 31, 2013. eTech Ohio encourages schools to notify their district technology director/coordinator (or designee) about their interest in this opportunity. For more information about the SketchUp Pro software, click here. To register and for more information about the free licenses through eTech, click here. For assistance with the application process, contact Quentin Briggs at quentin.briggs@etech.ohio.gov or (614) 485-6611.

Want quick access to Ohio educator data?
With the new, improved CORE Educator Profile module, users now can view licensure data without the additional step of logging into SAFE (ODE’s security software). In one streamlined location, you will be able to find the most commonly requested information, including credential history, application status, educator conduct history and data regarding school assignments as well as state and federal background checks. Click here to access the Educator Profile tool. A link to Educator Profile also is available at education.ohio.gov, under the “Educators” heading at the bottom of the page. If you have questions about the data in Educator Profile, please e-mail Educator Licensure Questions.

Fifth Quarterly ARRA Reporting Period for Calendar Year 2010, Third Quarter begins Wednesday
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Quarterly Survey covering the period July 1 through Sept. 30, 2010, will launch this Wednesday, Sept. 1. LEAs will have until 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, to complete this survey. Added to the survey this time is a certification check box concerning the reporting of fraud and abuse of ARRA funding. The ODE Stimulus Updates Web site provides links to the various federal and state agencies responsible for investigating fraud as well as ARRA 1512 Reporting Guidance.

Please submit suggestions for Spotlight feature on community service
Readers of last school year’s EdConnection will remember the weekly news item titled Spotlight, which described outstanding community service projects in Ohio schools. ODE will again feature these programs this year, so please let us know about interesting student activities aimed at helping others.

While it may be impossible to feature all items submitted for the Spotlight column, we do consider all entries and try to represent schools from all corners of the state. The projects most likely to be highlighted are those that tell a unique story, with details about the results of the project and its size and scope. It helps us to know how many people were affected by the activity and an estimated number of students, staff and community members involved. 

If you would like to share information about students who are engaged in your community, send an e-mail to superintendent@ode.state.oh.us and include “Spotlight” in the subject line. We also are pleased to receive digital images of these activities that might accompany the Spotlight column.

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.

Aug. 24, 2010

Today, we were excited to receive news from the U.S. Department of Education (USDoE) that Ohio has been selected to receive Round 2 Race to the Top (RttT) funding! It was an incredibly competitive process throughout, but we maintained our belief that Ohio’s application demonstrated a commitment to bold and innovative education reform reaching students across the state to ultimately benefit their success. Ohio is joined in this historic opportunity by Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island, as well as Delaware and Tennessee, who were awarded funding in Round 1. The reforms outlined in our RttT plan will impact all of Ohio’s districts and schools with 538 districts and community schools leading our efforts through their signed memorandum of understanding (MOU). Ohio has been awarded $400 million, of which more than 90 percent will directly support the work of schools across the state. 

ODE will be in contact with participating districts and community schools with detailed information about the next steps in the RttT process, including the timeline for submitting the Final Scope of Work. Per RttT regulations, all participating districts and community schools must have an approved Final Scope of Work by the end of November in order to continue participating in RttT.  We will provide additional details and will be scheduling meetings to provide assistance and support around the Final Scope of Work. Information and RttT updates will continue to be posted at rttt.education.ohio.gov. 

So many individuals worked to provide clarity, details, evidence, and support which enhanced Ohio’s Round 2 strategy. I would like thank each and every person who helped craft Ohio’s application. Our success in Round 2 is the culmination of the efforts of KidsOhio and the Ohio Grantmakers Forum and the creative thinking of more than 100 individuals representing 70 organizations who shared their ideas with us at editorial and review sessions. 

I would also like to extend a public thank you to Deputy Superintendent Marilyn Troyer. Dr. Troyer has worked tirelessly to ensure Ohio submitted the strongest and most compelling application to the USDoE. Her unwavering dedication and leadership strengthened our work and positioned our application for the best possible result. And lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the staff at ODE who, along with Dr. Troyer, dedicated many long hours in compiling our application.

I know the work is just beginning, but it is important to take a moment and reflect upon our work which has been recognized and rewarded. Now, we must continue with the same resolve and commitment as we begin to implement the initiatives we have developed. It is a wonderful feeling to know our work will benefit Ohio’s students now and for many years to come.   

Sincerely,

Aug. 23, 2010

Good morning,

When I turned on the television on Saturday evening and saw the Browns playing in a preseason game, I knew that fall is quickly approaching even though the weather does not seem to notice! I am still hoping for a Cleveland winning season in ANY sport!

Some of your hallways are a flurry of activity as students are returning to school already while others are making last-minute preparations for the start of the new school year. Although this time of year is hectic and sometimes exhausting, it is also rejuvenating to think of the possibilities that the new school year brings. Remember to draw on the energy of the teachers, the smiles on kids’ faces and the sounds of sports teams and bands practicing. This is the time of year when ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

Last Wednesday, the ACT released scores for the graduating class of 2010. I was pleased that Ohio not only had a record number of students taking the test, but also our results showed gains in the number of students meeting college-readiness benchmarks and in the overall composite score. Thank you for the role all of you played in encouraging more students to take the test and ensuring they were adequately prepared to do well. 

A total of 89,275 students took the test, which is 66 percent of Ohio’s 2010 high school graduates. Twenty-eight percent of Ohio students who took the ACT met the college readiness benchmarks for all four subjects, which exceeds the national average of 24 percent. Additionally, Ohio's average composite score for the ACT increased to 21.8 for 2010 from 21.7 in 2009. The national average composite score is 21.0.

It is promising that increasing numbers of minority students are taking the ACT, but there continues to be achievement gaps between student subgroups. As students entering the 9th grade this year will be the first class to fall under the Ohio Core curriculum, it is our goal for all students to enroll in rigorous and challenging courses. The ACT data demonstrates that taking this rigorous curriculum helps prepare students for academic success in the future. Clearly, as we move to the new rigorous college-ready academic standards, we will have much work to do to engage students more deeply in their learning and to provide support systems for them. Thank you for the work that you, along with principals, teachers, guidance counselors and other staff in your districts do to provide students with support and the extra encouragement that they sometimes need to tackle rigorous, challenging academic opportunities.

We have received a number of calls about the looming decision on our status with Race to the Top funding. We just received word this morning from the U.S. Department of Education that they plan to announce the Round 2 winners of Race to the Top tomorrow, Aug. 24 at noon. We will inform you of Ohio’s status as soon as it is released. Please keep your fingers crossed for good news tomorrow!

Looking ahead to Friday, ODE is scheduled to release the state and local report card data at 10 a.m. that morning. With the release, data about the state and local results as well as electronic versions of each report card will be posted to our website. ODE will be hosting a media conference call about the report card results at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. As a reminder, the 2009-2010 Guide to Understanding Ohio’s Accountability System has been posted to reportcard.ohio.gov.

Congratulations to Miami University! The recent U.S. News and World Report annual issue that identifies top schools in the country ranked Miami University number 2 in the country for its commitment to teaching and for their exemplary undergraduate education. This rating is to be applauded thunderously for Miami University tied with Princeton and was ranked higher than Stanford, Brown and Yale in this category. Congratulations to the many folks at Miami University who have committed their energies to making this rating possible. Your students are fortunate, indeed!

Enjoy these promising weeks of August!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         ODE introduces improved value-added diagnostic and reporting features
·         LEA special education performance determinations are coming soon
·         Live Chat on credit flexibility scheduled for Aug. 31
·         Applicants sought for peer assistance committee
·         Reminder: LEAs need to validate CCR registration for ARRA reporting
·         Upper Valley student captures national graphic arts honor

ODE introduces improved value-added diagnostic and reporting features
Significant advances are continuing to be made to the value-added information that you will receive through your Local Report Card on Friday, Aug. 27, and through access to EVAAS®, the online value-added site operated by SAS, our value-added analysts. 

Reporting and Use Enhancements
1)       Among several new EVAAS enhancements is a more differentiated display of value-added results in the diagnostic reports that will be available Aug. 27. The current three-level system (red, yellow and green) used to signify the value-added effect will be replaced by a five-level system that will give you better visual information about the extent to which growth was made in your district and school. Note that this change will not affect the categories used for accountability purposes, which will continue to use the three-level system as in prior years.
2)       EVAAS will include a new report that will help districts assess which students are less likely to reach proficiency given their history of test results. Look for this “pie-chart” and drill-down feature in EVAAS when it becomes available Aug. 27.
3)       Another new EVAAS report feature will show projected student growth to the next year. This feature does not replace the current two-year projection used for the AYP growth model. It will provide additional information to help you make program and placement decisions for individual students.
4)       As with last year, when school districts submit student names to SAS EVASS, they will receive district reports that include those names. There is still time to submit the requisite information to complete this process. The next window for submission closes Sept. 15. If you have questions about whether your district has completed this process, or need additional instructions to complete it, e-mail vainformation@ode.state.oh.us.
5)       Finally, look for value-added information being included as part of the Ohio Improvement Process. This additional information will be useful in helping leadership teams identify priorities and determine the impact of your plans.

For more information or assistance with the value-added measure, contact the regional value-added specialist through your state support team.

LEA special education performance determinations are coming soon
This week, ODE’s Office for Exceptional Children will mail annual individual 2010 special education performance determinations to LEAs. These determinations are based on final special education program data LEAs submitted for the 2008-2009 school year. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 requires state education agencies to make these determinations for all LEAs receiving IDEA funds.

The 2010 determinations are based on these criteria: LEAs’ performance on IDEA compliance indicators (9, 10, 11 and 12); submission of timely, valid and reliable data measured by indicator 20; correction of noncompliance (indicator 15) and results of audit findings related to Part B funds.

The document being mailed to each LEA, titled 2010 LEA Determinations Process, provides details on the criteria and describes the process for making LEA determinations based on a final, average point score. It also includes an LEA’s determination, expressed as meets requirements, needs assistance, needs intervention or needs substantial intervention.

If you have specific questions about your LEA’s determination, please contact ODE’s Office for Exceptional Children at (614) 752-1458 or determinations@ode.state.oh.us. To learn more about this topic, watch for details in upcoming editions of EdConnection about a Sept. 15-16 webinar explaining the new process and criteria that have been implemented to make LEA determinations.

Live Chat on credit flexibility scheduled for Aug. 31
A Live Chat from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, will give Ohio educators an opportunity to “talk details” with districts and schools that are implementing credit flexibility policies. During this time, Bill Wagner, principal of Lakewood High School, will share his district’s experiences. This program continues the discussion begun by school counselors and other administrators during an Aug. 17 webinar, which focused on credit flexibility considerations (i.e. development of student credit flexibility plans, and coordinating roles and responsibilities). There is no charge for the Live Chat, but participants must register by clicking here. Registration will stay open until capacity is reached. ODE will be offering an additional opportunity to participate in this Live Chat on credit flexibility later in September. For more information on credit flexibility, click here.

Applicants sought for peer assistance committee
ODE is seeking Ohio educators (administrators, teachers and regional support personnel) to serve on the new Ohio Peer Assistance Program Development Committee. This group will recommend framework components, develop a model peer assistance and review program, and make recommendations for its use in school districts throughout the state. House Bill 1 requires ODE, in consultation with the Educator Standards Board, to develop the model program, along with suggestions on how to expand its use. Applications to serve on the Ohio Peer Assistance Program Development Committee are due by Friday, Sep. 10. Applicants will be notified of committee selections later in September. The application packet, with complete details and an interactive application, is available on the ODE website. You also may find this information by visiting education.ohio.gov and searching for keywords: peer assistance.

Reminder: LEAs need to validate CCR registration for ARRA reporting
At this time last year, LEAs were instructed to register their DUNS numbers in the federal Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database to meet the reporting requirements for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. (The DUNS, or Data or Universal Numbering System, was developed and regulated by Dun & Bradstreet and assigns a unique numeric identifier to a single business entity.)

LEAs have begun to receive reminders to renew and revalidate their registration. The renewal/validation is required at least every 12 months, and failure to complete the process will cause registration to expire. If your LEA has not yet received a reminder message, you can still update the registration by logging in at CCR with your user ID, password and DUNS number. Guidance to assist you can be found on the ODE Stimulus Updates website, under the heading Data and Reporting Guidance.

Upper Valley student captures national graphic arts honor
Brithney Miller of Upper Valley Joint Vocational School in Piqua is one of six national winners in the Graphic Arts Education and Research Foundation (GAERF) 2010 Student Design Competition. The first-, second- and third-place recipients in secondary and postsecondary categories were chosen from 137 entries of marketing packages related to promoting GRAPH EXPO 2011, a national graphic communications trade show. The Ohio honoree receives $1,500 for placing second among all high school students. To view Brithney’s entry, visit the GAERF website, scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on her small, colorful light bulb image.

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.

Aug. 16, 2010

Good morning,

As schools begin to open across Ohio, I am sure we are all hoping for consistently cooler temperatures (without those pesky white flakes, of course!). This is an exciting time of year as classroom doors fling open and students rush in with new opportunities and challenges awaiting them. Some students are hoping for a fresh start while others continue to reach for greater heights of achievement. No matter how they enter into schools on their first day, there is no doubt that a school climate that shouts "We believe in our students" can really get the year off to a great start for our students. Thanks for all the preparations you have made to ensure a highly successful year.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the final version of the Education Jobs (Ed Jobs) bill, which provides states with $10 billion to save or create education jobs for the 2010-2011 school year. Ohio is estimated to receive $361 million from these funds. Ohio must apply to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) by Sept. 9, 2010, to receive these funds. ODE has been working with the Governor’s Office and the Office of Budget and Management to engage in the process for applying for these funds.

We are currently working through the details and guidance issued by the USDOE last Friday. A link to information about the Ed Jobs Fund is available on ODE’s home page, www.education.ohio.gov. 

We will be posting information as soon as it is available. At this time, we do not have the information needed to calculate district-by-district funding estimates, but we are working to provide those as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have provided links to the USDOE guidance and are developing a list of frequently asked questions. Additionally, we have established a dedicated email address, edjobs@ode.state.oh.us, to which you might send your questions related to this particular funding source.

In addition to the flurry of activity around the Ed Jobs bill, Ohio’s Race to the Top (RttT) team presented Ohio’s plan to a panel of reviewers selected by USDOE last Tuesday. It was a great relief to finally present our bold vision for the future of education in Ohio to the panel. The intense preparation was worth all of the work. The team and I left the presentation feeling very upbeat. Now, the agony of waiting for the USDOE’s decision has settled in. It is anticipated that the USDOE will make the grantees' announcement on or about September 1, 2010.

If you are interested in viewing the highlights of our remarks, we have posted the PowerPoint from our Race to the Top presentation to the ODE website. I thank everyone who had a hand in helping us during this exciting and exhausting journey.

I am extending  huge congratulations to Kent Boyd from Wapakoneta on his second-place finish on Fox’s dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance. Earlier this year, another Ohio native, Crystal Bowersox, finished second on American Idol. Clearly for these two students, and countless others, the arts play a tremendous role in their lives. September 12-18 is being recognized as 2010 Arts in Education Week. I encourage you and your staff to take time during that week to promote the many outstanding arts initiatives that occur in your schools and communities. 

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

• Registration is open for Ohio Transition Resident Educator Program
• Remember requirement to observe Constitution Day on Sept. 17

·         Translated letters to parents of students exiting LEP programs available

Registration is open for Ohio Transition Resident Educator Program

ODE requests that district and/or building entry-year coordinators register new resident educators and their respective mentors in the Ohio Transition Resident Educator Program. Only those individuals with the entry-year coordinator designation will have access to conduct this registration in CORE via their SAFE accounts.

The Transition Resident Educator Program provides resident educators with mentoring and support. Completion of this program qualifies them to advance to a professional license. To be eligible to participate in the 2010-2011 Transition Resident Educator Program, resident educators must:

·         Hold a valid Provisional Teacher License of any type, including a Career Technical Route B license or an Alternative Educator License;
·         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;
·         Be employed by an ODE-chartered educational entity or a preschool licensed by ODE or the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services;
·         Work 120 days, as determined by the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio; and
·         Be assigned an ODE-certified, trained mentor by their employer.

Registration is open through Nov. 15. For registration instructions and more information about the program, click here. Please direct any questions to Stephen King at (614) 387-7581 or stephen.king@ode.state.oh.us.

Remember requirement to observe Constitution Day on Sept. 17

Each year, schools nationwide help students understand the U.S. Constitution and its significance by commemorating Constitution Day. This year, the event will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 17, which is 223 years from the original date the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787.

Educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to plan an education program celebrating Constitution Day. ODE encourages schools to involve all students in grades K-12 in the celebration. As you plan your program, you may want to consider the following suggestions:

·                Invite all teachers, parents and other community members when planning school-wide events;

·         Engage students in meaningful activities aligned to the school’s curriculum and the Ohio academic content standards;
·         Plan programs with the current course of study in mind, connecting the topics and themes of Constitution Day to age-appropriate activities and grade-level content;
·         Although Constitution Day is a once-a-year event, continue the study and discussion of our rights and responsibilities as U.S. citizens throughout the school year.

The following resources may be useful in planning Constitution Day events and activities:

·         The National Archives and Records Administration celebrates Constitution Day by presenting related activities and lesson plans;
·         Federal Resources for Educational Excellence feature information from more than 30 federal agencies on teaching and learning, with topics including the U.S. Constitution;
·         The National Constitution Center is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the U.S. Constitution, its history and its contemporary relevance; and
·         The Library of Congress preserves valuable federal records including documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention of 1774-1789.

For more information on the Federal Register requirement, click here.

Translated letters to parents of students exiting LEP programs available
When students have met the criteria to exit limited English proficient (LEP) programs, districts should notify the parents. Students exit LEP programs when their scores on the Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition indicate that they have achieved the needed level of English proficiency to participate in mainstream classrooms without additional language support.

To assist districts with the requirement to communicate to parents in a language and/or manner understandable to them, ODE has developed a sample notification letter in English and translated it into the most frequently spoken languages of LEP students attending Ohio schools. To access these letters and adapt them for local needs, please click here or visit education.ohio.gov, keyword search: letters to LEP parents. For further information about Ohio’s accountability plan and exit criteria for LEP students, please click here or visit education.ohio.gov, keyword search: Title III accountability.

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.

You're Invited!
STRETCHING THE SCHOOL DOLLAR:
INSIGHTS FOR THE BUCKEYE STATE
Ohio's impending $6-8 billion budget shortfall and declining local property tax revenues will hit local school districts hard. Both state and local education officials are starting to examine their spending practices, seeking bold and creative ways to cut costs. Districts in particular are clamoring for ideas about how to make smart budget cuts and better spend their scarce resources without negatively impacting student learning -- but there are few precedents in Ohio for successful belt tightening and rethinking in K-12 education spending.   
Fortunately, there are ideas and best practices from elsewhere about how schools can save money and enhance student performance. 
These are the subject of a forthcoming book from Harvard Education Press,
Stretching the School Dollar: How Schools and Districts can Save Money While Serving Students Best.
 
Join three of the nation's foremost experts on school finance, and co-contributors to the book,
for a robust panel discussion about how the Buckeye State and its local schools
can "do more with less" and maintain educational quality.
Monday, September 27, 2010
8:30 to 10 a.m.
The Athletic Club of Columbus
136 E. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio
 
Panelists:
Marguerite Roza, Ph.D.
Senior Data and Economic Advisor, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Steven F. Wilson
Founder and President, Ascend Learning and Senior Fellow, Education Sector
Eric Osberg
Vice President and Treasurer, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Moderator:
Terry Ryan
Vice President for Ohio Programs and Policy, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute
* * *
To register, please email OhioRSVP@edexcellence.net or call (614) 223-1580.
Presented jointly by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, KidsOhio.org, and The Ohio Grantmakers Forum.

* * *
Nationally and in our home state of Ohio, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute strives to close America's vexing achievement gaps by raising standards, strengthening accountability, and expanding high-quality education options for parents and families. For more information about the Institute's work, visit www.edexcellence.net.

Attend a Live Webinar with
Charlotte Danielson
Introducing the New ASCD Teacher Effectiveness Suite powered by iObservation
August 13, 1pm EDT – Register Online

On August 13th Charlotte Danielson will introduce the latest advancement for the Framework for Teaching: the ASCD Teacher Effectiveness Suite powered by iObservation.

The Suite enables districts and schools to respond to calls for more rigorous teacher evaluation systems with an approach that is both familiar and effective. It incorporates the proven success of the Framework for Teaching with powerful data collection and reporting tools found in iObservation.

Register online for the August 13, 1pm EDT webinar with Charlotte Danielson. During the webinar she will describe how this new method for implementing the Framework offers greater efficiency and opens more opportunities to make a positive impact on teaching practice. Charlotte Danielson will also be available to answer your questions.

The webinar is open to any superintendent, principal, curriculum director, instructional coach, or other school administrator. We also welcome DOE or ESA personnel. Registration space is limited.

This webinar is presented in partnership with ASCD.

Live Webinar with
Charlotte Danielson:
August 13, 1 pm EDT Register

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The Danielson Collection in iObservation

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

Fourth Annual Special Education Leadership Conference – Inclusion Works!

We anticipate a great conference this year with a stellar line-up of presenters. Below is some information regarding the conference and deadlines.

• Conference Dates: Monday and Tuesday, September 20-21, 2010
• Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center – downtown Columbus
• Registration Costs: $100, whether you attend one or both days.
• Register as soon as possible for Ohio's 4th Annual Special Education Leadership Conference at www.ocecd.org
• Registration closes Wednesday, September 1, at the end of the day.
• There will be no on-site registration.
• All Pre-Conference sessions are filled and are no longer available.  
• Due to the Convention Center's fire code regulations, there is a capacity limit for each of the sessions.  Only those with the name of the session listed on their name tags will be admitted to each session so those registered for the session will have a seat.  The seating is classroom and there will be no standing room.
• Print handouts will be available for those registered for each session.
• All handouts will be available both on the www.education.ohio.gov and the www.edresourcesohio.org Web sites.
• The Conference begins at 1 PM on Sept. 20 with the General Sessions in Ballrooms 1 and 2.
• The Networking Reception on Monday, September 20, from 5:30 to 7, features interesting exhibits by commercial and education organizations in addition to networking opportunities with the presenters and with your colleagues.  When you register, be sure to indicate if you plan to participate in the reception.  The Ohio Council for Exceptional Children is sponsoring the reception where hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.  Art on display from Ohio Very Special Arts is also a highlight of the reception.
• Also, elementary and secondary principals interested in participating in the Principals' Academy on Monday, September 20, can register at http://www.edresourcesohio.org/par  When the Principals' Academy ends at 4 PM, principals attending the Academy are welcome to stay for the last session of the General Sessions in Ballrooms 1 and 2 - a panel featuring Kathe Shelby and the four national speakers - as well as to participate in the Networking Reception from 5:30 to 7 PM.

Aug. 9, 2010

Good morning,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that you were able to capture some fun times with family and friends. Given that the beginning of school is looming ahead, these free times will gradually diminish in length, so enjoy them to their fullest when you can!

Tomorrow at this time, Ohio’s Race to the Top (RttT) presentation team will be engaging reviewers from the U.S. Department of Education as we present our RttT plan and respond to questions from the panel. Any details we learn about the announcement of funding recipients, or the RttT program in general, will be shared in next week’s EdConnection.

As our presentation team completed our preparations last week and throughout the weekend, I became even more inspired and excited about our plan for improving Ohio’s education system. While I know that there will be a lot of work ahead of us should we be successful in our bid for RttT funds, we will be putting in place a system that ensures all students have access to a high quality education. Ohio has been making steady progress during the last decade, but we must continue to push our system to higher levels of achievement and to deepen the rigor we provide to our students. I believe our RttT plan utilizes some of our best resources, our educators who work daily in our classrooms, to be the architects of essential reform elements. I am hopeful the reviewers will feel inspired by the promise of our plan. We are carrying the RttT plan to Washington on the wings of so many of you who continue to do extraordinary work to benefit our students and their families. RttT resources can accelerate the progress we have made and ensure that all of Ohio’s students are college and career ready. Keep your fingers crossed!

Last Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, the U.S. Senate approved a $26 billion bill that included $10 billion for education. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been called back to Washington, D.C., to vote on the measure this week. Estimates indicate that Ohio could receive as much as $361 million for education should the proposal pass. Please understand that we have very few specifics about the legislation in hand and, with the House still to act on the bill, ODE has not produced any funding estimates for any district. As more information becomes available, I will be certain to pass it along.

The first day of classes is just around the corner and the Buckeyes are rated #2 in the most recent national poll. Let the fun begin!!

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Here are additional items that may be of interest:

·         Amendments to Operating Standards posted to Web
·        Family and civic engagement webinar video available
·        Ohio SkillsUSA captures most medals nationwide
·         ODH provides information about 3M’s Tartan Brand floor covering
·         Spotlight on Nelsonville High School

Amendments to Operating Standards posted to Web
At its July 2010 meeting, the State Board of Education voted to adopt amendments to the Operating Standards for Ohio School Districts and Schools. The Board adopted a comprehensive set of standards in 2006. Subsequent to this adoption, Senate Bill 311 of the 126th General Assembly and House Bill 1 of the 128th General Assembly required that certain amendments be made to Rules 3301-35-01 through 3301-35-06 of the Administrative Code.

These minimum standards apply to all public school districts, traditional public schools and chartered schools and are in place to ensure a general education of high quality. For a markup of Ohio’s current Operating Standards for Ohio Schools, as well as an overview chart showing changes made to the standards, visit education.ohio.gov and search keywords: operating standards.

Family and civic engagement webinar video available
Districts that are beginning to implement family and civic engagement plans may benefit from a webinar available now on the ODE website. It provides information about community health and human services initiatives thathelp families support their children’s academic success and well-being through the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB).

The OBB is a Web-based, counselor-assisted program that connects low- and moderate-income Ohioans to services such as food, nutrition, medical-expense and child-care cost assistance programs. By linking families to a local OBB counselor, districts can maximize community resources to support student learning. The OBB is a partnership among the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Development, Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks and more than 1,200 faith-based and community organizations across the state.

To access the 30-minute video, titled Overview of the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB), clickhere or visit education.ohio.gov and searchkeywords:FCE professional development.For more information, please contact ODE’s Family and Civic Engagement Coordinator Jennifer Vargo at (614) 995-0231 or jennifer.vargo@ode.state.oh.us.

Ohio SkillsUSA captures most medals nationwide
Ohio high school students led the nation with 62 medallions at the June 20-25, 2010, national SkillsUSA competition held at Hocking College. More than 100 Ohio teens received the Skill Point Credential for meeting a national benchmark set by the organization’s industry-technical committee. Ohio students Emily Combs (Warren County Career Center) and Katie Rhodes (Eastland Career Center) were elected national officer-at-large and national region III vice president, respectively. Congratulations!

ODH provides information about 3M’s Tartan Brand floor covering
During the 1970s and 1980s, some schools and recreation centers installed a rubber-like gym floor produced by 3M. In 2003, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) provided information about the flooring product and the potential that mercury used during the manufacturing process was being emitted into the air. In light of a recently renewed interest in this situation, ODH has requested that schools across Ohio receive information regarding 3M Tartan Brand flooring.

Any questions regarding this product should be directed to the Ohio Department of Health at (614) 466-1390.

Spotlight on Nelsonville High School

Nelsonville received a summer facelift, compliments of about 280 students and advisors participating in a SkillsUSA Summer Leadership Conference at Hocking College last week. In collaboration with the Downtown Nelsonville organization, Nelsonville Rotary, Nelsonville High School Restoration Committee and the City of Nelsonville, the students and advisors painted and cleaned up Nelsonville High School, Stuart’s Opera House and various curbs in downtown Nelsonville. Congratulations and thanks to the teenagers and their supervisors who used some of their summer vacation to give back to one of Ohio’s Appalachian communities!

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.

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Save the Date
STRETCHING THE SCHOOL DOLLAR: INSIGHTS FOR THE BUCKEYE STATE
Ohio faces a $6-8 billion budget shortfall in its next biennial budget. This deficit will surely impact K-12 education,
as 40 percent of state spending goes toward its public schools.
Join three of the nation’s foremost experts on school finance for a robust panel discussion
about how the Buckeye State and its local schools can do more with less and maintain educational quality.
Monday, September 27, 2010 – 8:30 to 10 a.m.
The Athletic Club of Columbus
Panelists:
Marguerite Roza, Ph.D.
Senior Data and Economic Advisor, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Steven F. Wilson
Founder and President, Ascend Learning and Senior Fellow, Education Sector
Eric Osberg
Vice President and Treasurer, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute
Moderator:
Terry Ryan
Vice President for Ohio Programs and Policy, The Thomas B. Fordham Institute
* * *
Event and registration details to follow.
Presented jointly by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, KidsOhio.org, and Ohio Grantmakers Forum.

* * *
Nationally and in our home state of Ohio, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute strives to close America's vexing achievement gaps by raising standards, strengthening accountability, and expanding high-quality education options for parents and families. For more information about the Institute's work, visit www.edexcellence.net.

August 2, 2010

Good morning,

The first Monday in August always brings about an increasing amount of activity in schools throughout our state. The hustle and bustle of the upcoming school year is played out in a number of ways. School parking lots become filled with teachers’ cars as they ready their classrooms for a new set of students. Marching bands are reuniting at camps, in parking lots and on football fields as they revamp their routines in anticipation of this year’s debut performance. Sports teams are trying to escape the heat and be optimistic about the upcoming season. Shopping flyers advertise the latest school gear and try to lure shoppers into their stores because they have the best prices.

There is no doubt that great anticipation can also bring a time to reflect on the vision and mission of the district to determine if they are all aligned with the district’s policies and practices. For example, if your vision or mission statement focuses on a belief that “…all students can learn…” or that your district “…prepares all students to assume a productive role in a global society…,” it really is essential to analyze whether or not district and school policies play out these broad and critical aspirations. As administrative teams assemble throughout the state this month, I challenge and encourage you to ask one essential question (among many): How will we respond when students don’t learn? Revisit this question many times throughout the year. Our responses to such questions tell our communities and, most especially, our students what it is that we value. We are facing another year of complex challenges. I applaud you for taking time to reflect, ponder and create a system of hope for all of Ohio’s students.

Last Tuesday, we received exciting news from the U.S. Department of Education that Ohio, along with 18 other finalists, has been invited to Washington, D.C. to present and answer questions about our Race to the Top (RttT) strategy. Additionally, ODE announced the five members of Ohio’s presentation team, which includes Governor Ted Strickland, Deputy Superintendent Marilyn Troyer, Columbus City Schools’ Superintendent Gene Harris, Melissa Cropper, teacher and union president from the Georgetown Exempted Village School District, and me. With the addition of Melissa to the presentation team, we have a representative from each stakeholder group responsible for implementing our RttT strategy. Our presentation is slated for next week, Aug. 10, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. Our team is proud to represent Ohio’s education system, our incredibly talented educators and the students who will benefit most from our collective work.  

As the school year approaches, I know we are all trying to keep track of the new and changing requirements that will go into effect during the year. In June, I shared information about Senate Bill 210, also referred to as the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act which, among other things, requires schools to conduct Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings for students in certain grades. The legislation also gives schools the ability to obtain a waiver from completing these screenings. ODE’s Office of Safety, Health and Nutrition has prepared several documents that you may find helpful, including sample parent notifications and a sample BMI Waiver Affidavit. Please see the information below for instructions on accessing these documents. As always, if there is anything we can do to assist you, or additional information that you would find helpful, please let me know.

Have a great week and continue to remain focused on the future of Ohio - our students!

Sincerely,

Here are other news items that may be of interest:

·         Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act in effect this coming school year
·         Credit Flexibility Web conference is Aug. 17
·         State Board approves revised accountability plan for LEP students  
·         2010-2011 Ohio Educational Directory updates due Sept. 10

Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act in effect this coming school year
Senate Bill 210 (SB 210), known as the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act, was signed into law June 18 and becomes effective beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. The law is aimed at combating childhood obesity by ensuring that students have access to healthy meals and beverages at school and requiring that students and parents receive information concerning student health.

One of the most immediate requirements is that local education agencies – including all exempted village, local and chartered nonpublic schools, community schools, and STEM schools owned and operated by districts – must begin conducting body mass index (BMI) screenings each year for all students in kindergarten, third grade, fifth grade and ninth grade. Districts also must report aggregate BMI data to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) by June 1 each year.

A provision within the law allows districts and schools to apply for a waiver for conducting BMI screenings in any given school year. To receive a waiver, local education agencies must submit an affidavit from the school board or governing authority stating that the requirement cannot be met. Public school districts that wish to waive the requirement for all schools in the district must submit only one affidavit from the local school board.

For an overview of required activities, please review BMI Screening Program; Six Implementation Steps. This document, and other resources, such as ODH guidelines, sample parent notification letters and the waiver form, is available by clicking here or visiting the ODE website at education.ohio.gov and searching the keywords: healthy choices for healthy children. For more information contact Craig Wethington at (614) 466-6837 or craig.wethington@ode.state.oh.us.

Credit Flexibility Web conference is Aug. 17
The first online credit flexibility conference of the fall will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, from 2 to 3 p.m. Co-hosted by ODE and the Great Lakes East Comprehensive Center, this Web conference is designed for school counselors who will most likely be asked first about the district credit flexibility policies. Tom Rutan and Mike Hubbell of ODE, and Judith Maver of the Ohio School Counselors Association/Akron City Schools, will share information and advice on how to manage requests from students in the 2010-2011 school year. To register, click here. For more information on credit flexibility, click here.

State Board approves revised accountability plan for LEP students 
In its July 2010 meeting, the State Board of Education approved revisions to Ohio’s Title III Accountability Plan for students served by limited English proficient (LEP) programs. The revisions, which are effective for data from the 2009-2010 school year, ensure compliance with the federal Notice of Interpretations published in October 2008 regarding Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act. The approved revisions will be incorporated into the Ohio Administrative Code. The research-based revisions provide two pathways for students in grades 3 to 12 to exit LEP programs, and measure the appropriate progress and attainment rates of all LEP students in their acquisition of English. For specific information regarding revisions to Ohio’s Title III Accountability Plan, click here or visit education.ohio.gov and search keywords: Title III – LEP Plan.

2010-2011 Ohio Educational Directory updates due Sept. 10
As you prepare for the new school year, please remember to update your district’s information in the Ohio Educational Directory System – Redesign (OEDS-R). This year, the deadline to make changes for the 2010-2011 online directory is Sept. 10. However, districts that wish to list principals or superintendents from the 2009-2010 school year on the upcoming Local Report Card for that year should not change principals’ names or superintendents’ names in OEDS until Aug. 30. All other information may be updated earlier. Districts will then have two weeks – from Aug. 30 to Sept. 10 – to change the OEDS-R listings to the new names so that the 2010-2011 online directory will be correct.

Public and nonpublic district superintendents (including those at joint vocational school districts, educational service centers and county boards of developmental disabilities), as well as community school principals and independent nonpublic principals are responsible for ensuring that all information reported in the directory is current and accurate. Contact information from the directory is used to send all official information and correspondence to school officials, including EdConnection and other newsletters. The person updating OEDS-R must have a SAFE account and be designated as an OEDS-R administrator to make changes in OEDS-R. Each superintendent may select another staff member to serve as the OEDS-R administrator for a school or district. Once this administrator has logged in and selected OEDS-R from the application menu, instructions detailing how to update records are available by clicking on the Updating OEDS-R link in the left menu bar.

After all changes are complete, check the box at the bottom of the record on the “General” tab next to the paragraph that begins, “Checking this box is an indicator to the OEDS System Administrator that the organization data has been updated and is available for inclusion in the annual directory.”

Clicking the box assures that the information has been submitted properly. If you do not verify the information by clicking the box, your updated information will not appear in the directory.

If you have questions about the update process, please contact your Information Technology Center (ITC) first. If you need more assistance, e-mail OEDSR.support@ode.state.oh.us. Please send any questions about SAFE accounts to safe.admin@ode.state.oh.us.

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