Legislation provides option for paper testing
Legislation (S.B. 216, 132nd General Assembly) that became effective Nov. 2, 2018, allows schools and districts the option of paper or online test administration only for third-grade state assessments: English language arts and/or mathematics, and Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities, English language arts and/or mathematics.

Schools that want to administer these assessments using paper must submit certified resolutions from their boards or governing bodies to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) by May 1 of each year for test administration occurring the following school year.

ODE will release more information about the submission process for the resolutions “at a later date.”  Direct any questions to ODE’s Office of Assessment at 614-466-1317 or statetests@education.ohio.gov

Federal “supplement, not supplant” guidance released
The U.S. Department of Education recently released federal guidance, giving districts and schools more flexibility in spending federal funds than was provided under an Obama administration rule which outlined a number of specific ways to demonstrate compliance.

The new federal guidance aligns with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the successor to the No Child Left Behind Act, which updates the longstanding federal policy that Title 1 funds “supplement, not supplant” state and local dollars for schools serving high percentages of low-income students.

The new proposal deems districts and schools compliant if able to demonstrate they are “Title 1 neutral in that it allocates state and local funds to schools without regard for Title 1 status.” Access the guidance online at: https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/snstitleiguidance.pdf

PBIS grant funding available
Competition for the School Climate State Grant for the 2019-2020 school year is now open.  The grant enables the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to provide financial assistance to implement Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) frameworks and evidence- or research-based social and emotional learning initiatives in eligible buildings.  

The grant prioritizes school buildings with an economically disadvantaged rate above the state average and school buildings with high out-of-school suspension rates.

The application window open closes March 21 at 4:59 p.m.  
Learn more online at:
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Other-Resources/School-Safety/Building-Better-Learning-Environments/PBIS-Resources/Ohio-School-Climate-State-Grant-NGO.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US