EMOTIONAL LEARNING STANDARDS APPROVED
At its June meeting, the State Board of Education considered social and emotional learning standards, with much debate over their appropriateness and effectiveness.

Several board members questioned the ability to determine whether social-emotional instruction would benefit students. “You measure it because you walk into a classroom that has orderly, happy, smiling children,” said Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), who chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves as an ex-officio member of the State Board. “That’s the measurement.”

The resolution establishing voluntary guidelines on social-emotional standards was approved by a vote of 11-6.  

HEALTH STANDARDS BILL WOULD BRING OHIO IN LINE WITH ALL OTHER STATES
Legislation currently being considered by the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee would require the State Board of Education to adopt either the most recent health education standards developed by the American Association for Health Education or standards prescribed by the State Board itself (based on the AAHE standards), repealing the current prohibition against the State Board adopting or revising standards or curriculum in the area of health unless approved by the House and Senate.

Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin), who is a physician, and Rep. Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) introduced H.B. 165 and testified on the desperate need for high quality health education in Ohio, noting that Ohio is the only state in the U.S. without health education standards.

Many stakeholders testified in support of the bill, which would permit – not require – districts and schools to utilize the proposed new health standards.  

LEGISLATION PROPOSES FEWER STATE ASSESSMENTS
Bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Gayle Manning (R-N. Ridgeville) and Rep. Erica Crawley (D. Columbus) calls for a reduction in the number of required end-of-course assessments from seven to three, bringing Ohio in line with federal minimums on testing.

Students would still be required to take assessments in English language arts II, science and algebra, but beginning with the class of 2022 would no longer be required to take assessments in English language arts I, geometry, American history and American government.

Also beginning with the class of 2022, the requirement that high school students take a nationally standardized college admission assessment (ACT or SAT) would be eliminated. House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) supports reduced testing, but Senate President Larry Obhof (R- Medina) told reporters that “We are not going to eliminate American history and government exams.”

COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM INFO AVAILABLE
The Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) new Ohio K-12 computer science webpage is available. It includes Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum for Computer Science, along with guidance documents on the use of computer science courses to satisfy graduation requirements. The site also offers information pertaining to licensure requirements, links to career resources, professional organizations and curriculum-development resources. Access documents and information online at: Click here

ADVOCATES CONTINUE EFFORTS TO OVERHAUL SCHOOL FUNDING
As previously reported, the version of the state biennial budget bill (H.B. 66) passed by the House of Representatives did not include a new school funding strategy developed by a bipartisan workgroup chaired by Rep. Bob Cupp (R-Lima) and Rep. John Patterson (DJefferson). But Cupp and Patterson continue to push for the plan, which has been tweaked to address concerns that it negatively impacts poor rural and urban districts.

Last month, stakeholders continued to advocate for addressing the issue of school funding in H.B. 166. Included among them was Delaware City School District Superintendent Paul Craft, who told the committee that a group of districts plan to sue the state if the budget bill doesn’t address the needs of growing districts, which are negatively impacted by funding caps.

House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has been firm in his position that a new funding formula be put in place through stand-alone legislation rather than the budget bill.

STATE BOARD WORK GROUP EXPLORES DOPR SCHOOL CHALLENGES
As previously reported, the State Board of Education has formed a dropout prevention and recovery (DOPR) work group to study various issues — including accountability — and make recommendations for legislative and/or administrative changes.

The work group is chaired by former legislator John Hagan, who represents District 8. District 5 representative Linda Haycock serves as vice chair. Two members of the work group have ties to schools sponsored by Buckeye Community Hope Foundation: Roger Fox, who serves as director for The Academy for Urban Scholars Columbus; and, Cris Gulacy-Worrel, vice president of development and advocacy for Oakmont Education – the management company for YB Columbus Community School.

The work group held three meetings in June, and has three scheduled in July. It is tasked with presenting a report outlining recommended legislative and/or administrative changes to the State Board of Education prior to its December 2019 meeting.

DAY-LONG WORKSHOP ADDRESSES LEGAL ISSUES FOR CHARTERS
The Education Law Association will host a one-day workshop – Legal Issues for Ohio Community & Charter Schools – in the Columbus area (suburban Dublin) on August 22 (re-scheduled from May and August 8).

Buckeye Community Hope Foundation’s Vice President of Legal Affairs Stephanie Klupinski and Accountability and School Improvement Lead Dr. Carol Young are among the presenters. Their session is titled Chasing the Dream of Charter Autonomy. Other topics include: recent legal issues in special education; safety and related issues including the first and fourth amendments; legislative update; and, government relations, governance, public records and open meetings.

Register or learn more at: Click here