USEP-OHIO E-update September 13, 2011
Dear Friends of USEP-OHIO, Educators, Advocates, Parents and Professionals,
USEP-OHIO looks forward to the new school year with all of you! Many have told us of the frustration of dealing with new students from many cultures. So we have a new page on our website devoted to sharing information and tips that may help to understand those new to our schools and communities.
Please go to http://www.usep-ohio.com/ResourcesPage.html or click on the following link to go directly to the document. http://www.usep-ohio.com/documents/One_World_Cultural_Cues_and_Clues.doc
Needed most – to understand and to be understood; to teach, to listen and learn.
Included is information and tips for many cultures and countries. Let us know if it is helpful.
Included in this E-Update: Reports on the Ohio General Assembly, the Statehouse, and updates on the State Board of Education and many events in the legislature. We included news from Washington and Special Reports include a report on School Funding and an analysis comparing proficiency scores. Look for links to webinars, trainings and many events and resources at the end of this Update. See a link to an immigrant’s story about why the federal budget is so important to families, Read more at the USEP-OHIO website www.usep-ohio.com. See recent reports on Preschool funding, Poverty in Ohio, School performance measures and Arts Education in past issues of the E-Update.
The news of Education in Ohio is constantly changing. Stay alert to changes you should know about.
Cindy McKay, Executive Director, USEP-OHIO, Inc.
Ohio Education News:
The 129th Ohio General Assembly:
The Ohio House has cancelled sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, but has scheduled a session on Thursday, September 15, 2011 to consider a bill (pending introduction) about congressional redistricting. The Ohio Senate has cancelled sessions for this week. Both the House and Senate will hold committee hearings this week.
New Faces at the Statehouse: Over the past few months several lawmakers have resigned from the Ohio House and Senate and new members have been appointed to complete their terms of office. Most recently on September 9, 2011 Governor Kasich announced the appointment of Senator Tim Grendell (18th Senate District) to the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas Court effective September 21, 2011, which will leave another temporary open seat in the Ohio Senate. The following is a review of the recent changes at the Statehouse:
New to the Ohio Senate: 20th Senate District: Representative Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville - 94th House District) replaced Senator Jimmy Stewart -26th Senate District: Representative Dave Burke (R-Marysville - 28th House District) replaced Senator Karen Gillmor.
New to the Ohio House: 94th House District: Brian Hill (R-Zanesville) replaced Representative Troy Balderson -28th House District: Dorothy Pelanda (R-Marysville) replaced Representative Dave Burke.
Pending changes: 30th House District: Representative Robert Mecklenborg (R-Cincinnati) resigned. The Ohio Republican Caucus is currently interviewing candidates for the seat. 18th Senate District: Senator Tim Grendell has been appointed to the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas effective September 21, 2011. No news yet about the process that the Senate will use to replace him.
Good Economic News: The Office of Budget and Management, Tim Keen director, reports that August tax revenue at $1.55 billion is $67.4 million ahead of estimates. Total tax revenue for FY12 is $284 million higher than during the first two months of FY 2011.
Congressional District Plan to be Revealed Tuesday: The House State Government & Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Huffman, will review and possibly vote on a legislative plan for re-configuring congressional districts on September 13, 2011. Due to the 2010 Census the number of congressional districts in Ohio must be reduced from 18 to 16. Currently Republicans represent thirteen districts and Democrats five districts in Congress. The plan must be approved by the General Assembly soon to allow elections officials time to prepare for primary elections in the spring. Separate legislation to move the Presidential Primary from March 2012 to May 2012 is also being considered. Lawmakers approved that change in recently passed legislation, HB194 (Mechlenborg/Blessing), but that law will not go into effect, because it is being challenged through the referendum process.
State House and Senate districts in Ohio will also be re-configured as a result of the 2010 Census through a process led by the Apportionment Board, which consists of the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and two legislative members from each party.
This Week at the Ohio Statehouse:
Monday, September 12, 2011
The House Legislative Study Committee on Ohio Tax Structure, chaired by Representative Adams, met at 11:00 AM at the University of Toledo Scott Park Auditorium, 2225 Nebraska Ave, Toledo. The committee received testimony on the Commercial Activity Tax, tax expenditures, and sales and use taxes.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The House State Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Huffman, will meet at 1:30 PM in hearing room 313. Pending introduction and referral, the committee will hold hearings on legislation regarding Congressional redistricting sponsored by Representative Huffman and legislation to change the spring primary election date, sponsored by Representatives Blessing and O'Brien.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee, chaired by Senator Faber will meet at 9:30 AM in the South Hearing Room. Pending introduction and referral, the committee will hear sponsor testimony on legislation sponsored by Senator Faber to move the date of the spring primary election.
The House State Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Huffman, will meet at 1:45 PM or immediately after session in hearing room 313. Pending introduction and referral, the committee will hold hearings and a vote is possible on a congressional redistricting bill sponsored by Representative Huffman and legislation to change the spring primary election date sponsored by Representatives Blessing and O'Brien.
The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Beck will meet at 3:30 PM in hearing room 114. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:
· HB242 (Brenner/Patmon) Tax Credits for Nonpublic Schools. This legislation would authorize non-refundable tax credits for donations to nonprofit entities providing scholarships to low-income students enrolling in chartered nonpublic schools.
· HB258 (Grossman/Dovilla) Apprenticeship Programs. This legislation would exempt from taxation for five years the earned income of an individual who obtains journey-person status or a baccalaureate degree and works in Ohio, and prohibits adopting standards stricter than federal regulations for apprenticeship programs.
The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Stebelton, will meet at 5:00 PM in hearing room 017. The committee will receive testimony on the following legislation:
· HB255 (Gonzales) School Breakfast Programs: Requires school districts and community schools to establish school breakfast programs in academic emergency buildings, and makes other changes regarding school breakfast programs.
· HB211 (Adams) American History State Academic Standards: Includes content on specified historical documents in the state academic standards and in the high school American history and government curriculum.
· HB136 (Huffman) Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings Scholarship Program: Replaces the Educational Choice and the Cleveland scholarship program with the Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings Scholarship Program, and establishes the Special Education Scholarship Program.
Friday, September 16, 2011
The House Legislative Study Committee on Ohio Tax Structure, chaired by Representative Adams, will meet at 10:30 AM at University Akron Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill St., Akron, OH.
News from Washington:
Back to School Bus Tour: U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and officials from the U.S. Department of Education visited Ohio and other midwest states last week to promote "Education and the Economy" in a "back-to-school" bus tour of several schools and school districts.
While visiting Cleveland Secretary Duncan participated in a panel discussion about connecting community resources to the classroom, and while in Toledo Secretary Duncan met with teachers.
Senior officials of the U.S. Department of Education participated on September 6, 2011 in a meeting hosted by U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge with several school superintendents, and also visited several school districts and charter schools.
For information about these visits please see StateImpact Ohio, which covered the tour and interviewed Secretary Duncan.
Congress Returns from Summer Recess: Lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C. last week to continue work on a number of education-related bills that have been stalled for months. Lawmakers must still approve FY12 appropriations, which begin on October 1, 2011, and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as the No Child Left Behind Act. Certain sanctions for school districts that do not meet adequate yearly progress will go into effect this year if Congress does not change the law or grant waivers from its provisions.
A new panel, dubbed the "supercommittee", created in federal legislation to increase the debt ceiling, will also be meeting to find ways to cut the federal deficit. The panel's recommendations to reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten years are due November 23, 2011, and could affect FY12 appropriations and FY13 budget recommendations for education and the arts. Automatic cuts will be enacted if Congress and the President can't agree on the supercommittee's recommendations.
President Obama is also asking Congress to approve the American Jobs Act ($450 billion), which will be introduced this week. According to a speech President Obama made before a joint session of Congress on September 8, 2011, the American Jobs Act will provide funds to prevent the layoff of up to 280,000 teachers; help keep police and firefighters on the job; support construction and renovation of school facilities; expand access to high-speed wireless; and more. More information about the American Jobs Act is available.
State Board of Education to Meet:
The State Board of Education, Debe Terhar president, will meet on September 12 & 13, 2011 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH.
On Monday, September 12, 2011, the Executive Committee of the State Board of Education will meet at 8:45 AM. The committee will discuss the concept of having a student member on the State Board of Education; discuss the October retreat; discuss the NASBE slate of officers; and recommended changes to NASBE's positions on public education.
The Legislative and Budget Committee and Technology and Education Systems Committees will meet at 9:30 AM.
The Legislative and Budget Committee, chaired by C.Todd Jones, will discuss the proposed federal platform and receive an update on pending legislation.
The Technology and Education Systems Committee, chaired by Dennis Shelton, will receive an update from John Childs, interim chief operating officer and receive updates about eTranscripts, student record exchange, IIS, and EMIS-R.
At 11:00 AM the Board will recognize distinguished school administrators who have been selected by their professional associations to receive the following awards:
· Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) Betsy Cowles Award - Deborah S. Delisle
· Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) - Superintendent of the Year - Dr. Philip Price, Mayfield Heights City School (Cuyahoga County)
· Distinguished Principals of the Year:
o Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) - Secondary Principal of the Year - Roger Howard, Independence High School (Cuyahoga County)
o Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) - Distinguished Elementary Principal of the Year - Teresa Anderson, High Street Primary (Piqua, Miami County)
o Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) - Distinguished Middle School Principal of the Year - Heidi Kegley, Willis Intermediate School (Delaware, Delaware County)
o Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA) - Middle School Principal of the Year - Matthew Lutz, formerly Walnut Springs Middle School (Westerville, Franklin County), currently Executive Director of Education for the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC).
After lunch at 1:00 PM the Achievement, Capacity, and Select Committee on Urban Education committees will meet.
The Achievement Committee, chaired by Angela Thi Bennett, will consider the following:
-Discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-16-02, Honors Diploma -Discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-16-03, Community Service Learning -Discuss SB 210 - Healthy Choices for Healthy Children's Act -Discuss a performance indicator for gifted education -Discuss and approve a resolution of intent to rescind Rule 3301-61-14, Provisions for the career-technical education construction and equipment loan fund.
The Capacity Committee, chaired by Tom Gunlock, will consider the following:
-Discuss the Diversity Strategies Policy Implementation Plan -Discuss proposed amending of Rule 3301-24-18, Resident Educator License -Discuss proposed new Rules 3301-101-01 to -12, Peterson Special Education Scholarship Program -Discuss proposed rescission of Rules 3301-104-01 to -03, Expenditures for Computer or Internet Based Schools -Discuss proposed amending of Rules 3301-11-01 to -04, -07, Ed Choice
The Selected Committee on Urban Education, chaired by Joe Farmer, will consider the following:
-Review and discuss a presentation from the Office of Accountability on the performance of urban districts on the 2011 LRC -Review and discuss a presentation from the Office of School Options on EdChoice and Community School performance
The full Board will convene at 2:45 PM to receive a presentation about the 2011 State Report Cards.
Board members will present reports at 3:45 PM, and a 119 hearing on ORC Rules 3301-24-04, Entry Year Program, will be conducted at 4:00 PM.
The Board will then adjourn.
Meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The State Board meeting will begin at 8:30 AM with an executive session.
At 10:00 AM the Board will convene and receive a presentation from Bob Sommers, Director of the Governor's Office of 21st Century Education and Barbara Mattei-Smith, Assistant Policy Director, Governor's Education Office, about a new funding model for education.
At 11:30 AM the Board will convene its business meeting, which includes the swearing-in of Stan Heffner, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Board will then receive reports from committees; receive the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction; receive public participation on agenda items, and vote on the report and recommendations of the Superintendent. The report and recommendations are listed below.
The Board will then consider old business, new business, miscellaneous business, receive public participation on non-agenda items, and adjourn.
September 2011 Report and Recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
#8 Approve a Resolution of Intent to Amend Rule 3301-16-02 of the Administrative Code entitled establishing criteria for awarding the diploma with honors.
#9 Approve a Resolution of Intent to Adopt Rule 3301-16-03 of the Administrative Code entitled community service learning
#10 Approve a Resolution of Intent to Rescind Rule 3301-61-14 of the Administrative Code entitled Rule for the Provisions for the Career-Technical Education Construction and Equipment Loan Fund.
#11 Approve a Resolution to deny the proposed transfer of school district territory from the Hilliard City School District, Franklin County, to the Dublin City School District, Franklin County, pursuant to Section 3311.24 of the Ohio Revised Code.
#12 Approve a Resolution to deny the proposed transfer of school district territory from the Plain Local School District, Stark County, to the North Canton City School District, Stark County, pursuant to Section 3311.24 of the Ohio Revised Code.
#20 Approve a Resolution to confirm the findings of the Ohio Department of Education for the revocation of the approval of the Ashe Cultrue Center to sponsor community schools.