Long-awaited graduation requirements approved for next two years
As expected, the Ohio House and Senate took action during the year-end lame duck legislative session to delay previously approved stricter graduation requirements from remaining in place for the graduating classes of 2019 and 2020.  READ MORE

Nominations open for ODE assessment committees
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is currently accepting applications for participants to serve on three types of assessment committees tied to Ohio’s state tests in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.  READ MORE

Legislature approves cursive handwriting bill
The Ohio House and Senate approved cursive handwriting legislation during its brief, year-end lame duck session.  House Bill 58 requires the Ohio Department of Education to include supplemental instructional materials on the development of handwriting as a universal skill in the English language arts model curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade.  The materials must be designed to ensure that students develop the ability to print letters and words legibly by third grade and to create readable documents using legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade.  The material must be incorporated into the model curriculum by July 1, 2019 and must be updated periodically.

ODE develops, recommends e-school definitions
Legislation (S.B. 216) approved by the General Assembly last year tasked Ohio’s superintendent of public instruction with researching, developing and recommending definitions for a number of key terms including: documentation of online learning; idle time; educational; non-educational; participation; and, classroom — as applied to e-schools.

Superintendent Paolo DeMaria’s recommendations were reviewed last month by the Joint Education Oversight Committee (JEOC), which heard testimony raising concerns regarding ODE’s suggested definition – “reliable, system-generated reports detailing a student’s participation in online learning opportunities while using the online system” or “reliable student- or parent-generated and teacher-verified reports” -- for “documentation of online learning.”

Access the full report submitted to JEOC online at: http://jeoc.ohio.gov/Assets/EventFiles/366.pdf

ODE approves Rise Up program
The Ohio Department of Education has approved the National Retail Federation Foundation and Ohio Council of Retail Merchants RISE Up training and credentials program. 

The RISE Up program can now be used in high schools and career-technical centers throughout the state.  The program focuses on the fundamentals of the retail industry and features job training and mentorship components.  

About two-dozen districts are expected to use the program and seek state reimbursement for the cost of the credential exams, according to the two groups.

Learn more online at:
https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/nrf-foundation-rise-training-and-credentials-approved-use-ohio-high

ExtraCredit features retiree’s lessons learned
Steve Gratz, retiring from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) after a long career in education, shares “25 Things I’ve Learned from Nearly Four Decades in Education” through ODE’s blog, ExtraCredit.  His diverse experience includes nearly a decade teaching and 29 years serving in various capacities within ODE, giving him a unique perspective on Ohio’s K-12 system of public education.  Read his blog at: http://education.ohio.gov/Media/Extra-Credit-Blog

BCHF receives “effective”sponsor rating
Buckeye Community Hope Foundation (BCHF) earned an overall rating of “effective” on the Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) 2017-2018 sponsor evaluation, the results of which were recently released.  READ MORE

Ohio's ACT, SAT scores down
ACT recently released a report revealing that the national average composite score for the class of 2018 dropped slightly from 21 in the previous year to 20.8, with Ohio scores falling from 22 to 20.3 in the first year in which all high school juniors were required to take the ACT or SAT.  READ MORE

New campaign helps students prepare for college
The 3 to Get Ready! statewide initiative will help high school students apply for financial aid, submit college applications and select where they’ll pursue their college education.  READ MORE

New OhioMeansJobs resources available
Ohio’s free career planning system – OhioMeansJobs K-12 – offers comprehensive, career exploration tools, online training and resources.  READ MORE

State report cards: Brick and mortar charters outperform Big 8 district schools in overall value-added 
According to an analysis of 2016-2017 report cards by Buckeye Charter School Boards, Inc. (BCSB), brick and mortar charter schools out-paced Big 8 urban district schools in overall value-added. READ MORE