News from the Ohio Department of Education
ODE takes steps to help improve SES program tutor accountability
ODE has now posted tutor effectiveness reports on its website at:
https://ccip.ode.state.oh.us/DocumentLibrary/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentKey=77874. This information is provided so parents can view the performance of more than 200 organizations that serve Ohio students in the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) program. SES is a targeted federal funding source for certain low-performing schools with low-income students.
Publishing the reports is part of ODE’s plan to improve the performance of SES tutors following an internal audit found that ODE and local districts need better monitoring of SES tutors to avoid fraud and poor performance. While ODE certifies and publishes a list of state-approved tutors parents can select from, local districts are responsible for ensuring individual tutoring services are high quality and delivered as billed. ODE is working to revamp the tutor evaluation system used by districts. For more on evaluating tutor effectiveness go to ODE’s Supplemental Educational Services webpage.
New guide to ODE contacts to streamline access for schools and districts
A new, more comprehensive guide to ODE staff contacts, organized by topic, is now available on the ODE website. The guide is designed to make inquiries on a wide range of topics easier and will be updated regularly. To view the ODE Contact Guide, click here.
Ftee workshops on standards-based curriculum design for physical education are Oct. 17, 21, 26
Kent State University-affiliated curriculum specialists will present workshops Oct. 17, 21 and 26 in various Ohio cities to help teachers align their physical education curriculum to the Ohio K-12 physical education content standards and assessments. The sessions are from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. in Athens, Bowling Green andKent, OH, respectively. The topic is one of several on physical education standards to be covered in sessions funded this fall by ODE and conducted in cooperation with the Buckeye Healthy Schools Alliance (BHSA) and Ohio Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. To register for the workshop of your choice, click on the link below. For more information, contact Heather Vilvens, Executive Director, BHSA, at
hvilvens.bhsa@gmail.com or (937) 725-2787.
Information on the three sessions are found at:
Superintendent Heffner visits MC2 STEM High School in Cleveland
State Superintendent Stan Heffner met last week with students and staff of the MC2 STEM High School. The year-round school is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and is located on the campus of the GE Lighting World headquarters. With the school’s focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as higher education, students earn college credit from Cleveland State University or Cuyahoga Community College. MC2 STEM High School offers rigorous, relevant instruction, and students earn credit based on 90-percent mastery of each subject, not seat time. Additionally, students have regular exposure to the STEM-related workforce as they partner and have lunch with General Electric engineers. GE volunteers have contributed more than 5,500 hours to the students in two years. Schools like these are the front-runners in moving Ohio toward college- and career-readiness for all students. To learn more about MC2 STEM High School click here: