News from the Ohio Department of Education
Ohio applies for competitive Early Learning Challenge grant
This week, Ohio applied for a competitive, $70 million Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant to improve its early childhood education system. The RTT-ELC application lays out Ohio’s plan to improve kindergarten readiness for children with high needs. Ohio’s planned system would increase access to high-quality services; improve the quality of early childhood services; and measure and report progress on the results.
The approach would be to broaden prekindergarten content standards to include social-emotional development, approaches toward learning, and physical well-being and health. Ohio also would expand its assessment system to include prekindergarten and kindergarten formative assessments in all essential domains of school readiness. The system also would support professional development in the use of the new standards and assessments. The U.S. Department of Education will announce grant winners by Dec. 31. For details on essential domains of school readiness click here: http://www.doe.in.gov/primetime/docs/SchoolReadiness.pdf.
Nominations open for mathematics and science teaching awards
Nominations are now open for the 2012 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The deadline is April 1, 2012. The PAEMST program recognizes teachers for their contributions to science and mathematics teaching and their ability to help students progress in their knowledge of the two subjects. This year’s nominations are restricted to teachers in grades K-6. In alternate years, only teachers in grades 7-12 may be nominated. Visit ODE’s PAEMST Web page at for more information. Please address questions to Patty Griffin at patty.griffin@ode.state.oh.us or (614) 995-3735.
Participants sought for SES Tutor Effectiveness Report focus groups
ODE is seeking district personnel, service providers and interested parents to participate in focus groups to help redesign the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Tutor Effectiveness Report. Participants will attend one of four regional focus-group sessions taking place Oct. 28 in Dayton, Nov. 10 in Findlay, Dec. 2 in Athens and Dec. 8 in Cleveland. Each program will feature a session for district personnel and parents, as well as a session for providers. Space is limited and registration is required. District personnel and service providers may register through STARS. Parents may register by calling Karl Koenig at (614) 752-1597. For more information call ODE’s Office of Federal Programs at (614) 466-4161 and ask to speak with an SES team member. Please do not call event locations for information.
Veterans Day observances required by law; free resources available
Veterans Day honors America’s veterans for their patriotism and willingness to serve the common good, and it provides students with the opportunity to examine the meaning of civic ideals. Ohio law requires that each school devote at least one hour or one standard class period on or around Veterans Day to an observance that conveys the meaning of the day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also offers a free teachers guide found at http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday .
Developing quality student credit-flexibility plans topic of Oct. 26 Web conference
During a Web conference on Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Tom Rutan, ODE’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction, and Mike Hubbell, Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools, will discuss recommended elements of a quality student credit-flexibility plan. They also will share what Ohio school districts have been learning during the past year about credit flexibility implementation. The session is designed for teachers of record and other administrators directly involved in the development and implementation of a student credit-flexibility plan. The Web conference is free but participants must register at: http://registration.airprojects.org/ohwebconferenceseries/register.aspx
Asset Builder Award nominations due Oct. 28
The deadline for nominations for the Asset Builder Award program is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. ODE’s Office of Family and Community sponsors the program. The Asset Builder Awards recognize individuals, schools, districts, youth organizations, businesses or community members making exceptional contributions to effective prevention, intervention and youth-development programs that help children build the assets needed to become healthy adults. Judges will use the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets as criteria in evaluating the effectiveness of nominees’ efforts. To view the nomination form, the Search Institute assets and a link to more information on the conference, click http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=435&Content=113331. For general information, contact Jill Jackson atjill.jackson@ode.state.oh.us, or (614) 466-9540; toll-free, 1 (800) 808-6325.
Winners will be honored Nov. 17 at the 2011 Ohio Prevention and Education (OPEC) Conference in Columbus.