Ohio Legislative Updates

ODE Submits ESSA Proposal

After many rounds of comments and several draft plans, the Ohio Department of Education has submitted their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan to the federal government for approval.  During the comment period, Ohio School Counselor Association members participated in roundtable discussions with ODE and other stakeholders to discuss specifics of the plan.
 
According to ODE, Ohio’s ESSA plan addresses several key areas, such as:

• Academic Content Standards and Assessments: The plan reflects Ohio’s current academic content standards, including a thorough and ongoing review of the standards by Ohio teachers for Ohio students. The plan will accommodate any assessment changes that may be adopted as long as federal requirements are met.
• Accountability: The plan reflects the current A-F report card, as required by state law, with changes that more appropriately recognize improvement and gap closing and providing additional accountability and support for English learners.
• School Improvement: The plan includes strategies that support districts and schools in planning and goal setting and assists struggling schools with implementing evidence-based strategies.
• Educator Effectiveness: Ohio will support local schools’ and districts’ efforts to ensure access by all students to effective teachers and school leaders.

ODE Strategic Plan

Paolo DeMaria is kicking off his second year as state superintendent of public instruction by convening stakeholders to create a long-term strategic plan for education in Ohio. The plan, Mr. DeMaria said, will focus on several areas: standards, assessments and accountability, early literacy, excellent educators, school climate and culture, postsecondary connections and high school success. The strategic plan that his agency began preparing for a few months ago won't be a "prescriptive, top-down kind of thing," he said. Instead, practitioners, policy makers, parents, businesses, community organizations and more will be asked to take part in its crafting.
 
Amanda Sines and Mikayla Pollitt are with the Government Advantage Group in Columbus. Contact 614-221-7157 or amanda@gov-advantage.com.