News and Events for April 29 Through May 10, 2024

Unlock the Power of Team Synergy: Hire the Ideal Team Player!

In this month's K-12 Principals Network, we delve into the art of assembling a dream team. Discover essential qualities to look for in candidates, practical strategies for identifying the ideal team player, and tips for fostering a culture of collaboration in your school community. From enhancing staff dynamics to maximizing student success, learn how recruiting the right individuals can transform your school's journey towards excellence. Don't miss out on this insightful guide for school leaders striving for impactful team-building!

Got Questions? We’ve got answers!

Join Dee Dee and Helen for May’s SpEd Office Hours where they’ll tackle questions from the field regarding all areas of special education. Email your questions ahead of time or ask in the moment.

May 8th 9:00 - 10:00 am

Calling All SpEd Administrators!!!

Special Education Forum (IN PERSON)

May 14th 9:00-11:30

Don’t miss the final SpEd Forum of the school year! Join SST8 IN PERSON, for critical updates, announcements, relevant learning content, and networking opportunities. With so much happening in the world of special education, you won’t want to miss this final session.

Listen to our 8 with 8 podcast this week as we explore two great educational innovations in our region:

Gone But Still Giving

In the Barberton High School cybersecurity lab, Jackson Gamsby— a Copley High Student— learns about digital forensics and guarding against cyber attacks... One floor below, Barberton High student Jamison Gurchie knows how to use a variety of machines in the advanced manufacturing room. He has a goal of one day working in the industry... Both programs, used by four school districts (Barberton, Wadsworth, Norton and Copley), are strong but about to get much stronger— thanks mainly to a late educator named Phil Hodanbosi. Both district leaders and students greatly appreciate the legacy he leaves behind... Most recently, Hodanbosi wrote a grant for the district and applied for a $1.4 million grant through the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

Registration for ReadOhio's 2024 Literacy Academy is now open! Check out the jam-packed agenda full of literacy learning.

Mark your calendars and register soon.

This DEW event tends to fill up fast!

Ohio Materials Matter Updates

Ohio HQIM Rubrics Coffee Chat Webinar

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is committed to increasing student learning through:

Student access to high-quality instructional materials that are aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards.
Educator access to high-quality professional learning grounded in high-quality instructional materials.
Educator support in reviewing, selecting, and implementing high-quality instructional materials aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards and the Ohio Curriculum Support guide.

To do this, the Department is partnering with EdReports to develop Ohio High-Quality Instructional Materials Rubrics in the content areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages & Cultures, Computer Science & Technology, Fine Arts, and Physical Education to inform and support the decisions made locally in relation to selecting high-quality instructional materials. These rubrics are designed to offer a structure that districts can use to decide on the quality of instructional materials and alignment with the Ohio Learning Standards and other local criteria.

Click to register and learn more about the Ohio HQIM Rubrics

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in partnership with EdReports, will be hosting a coffee chat on the rubrics on May 7 from 3:30-4:00 p.m. Join this coffee chat to learn more about the rubrics as well as the process for developing and refining the rubrics in anticipation of their upcoming public release.

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Report Portal

📢 Stay informed about education in Ohio with the latest insights and data provided by the Ohio Department of Education's Reports Hub. Dive into comprehensive overviews covering various aspects of Ohio's educational landscape, from student performance to school accountability measures. There have been recent upgrades including an Identification Dashboard. Access to transparent and up-to-date information is essential for fostering positive change in education. Visit https://reports.education.ohio.gov/overview

today to explore the wealth of resources available and stay engaged in shaping the future of education in Ohio.

Cohort 1 One Plans are due April 30th

The deadline for completing One Needs Assessment and One Plan is next week, April 30th. SST8 offers a range of resources and assistance. Whether you need guidance, templates, or expert advice, our team is here to help you navigate the complexities of One Needs Assessment and One Plan.

DEW has posted the spreadsheet detailing the district allocations to subsidize the HQIM expenses. Download by clicking the picture below.

Help redesign Ohio's Alternate Assessment: Committee for AASCD

Each year the Department develops new English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies test items for Ohio's Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) and requires a committee of Ohio educators to ensure they are aligned with Ohio's fairness and sensitivity guidelines and Ohio’s Learning Standards–Extended.

We will use Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings scheduled May 13-23 from 8:30-4:30 pm each day. Training will be provided the morning of the first meeting day. If you are unable to attend for the entire 9 days, please let us know which days you can attend. Ohio’s test vendor Cambium Assessment will provide Substitute Teacher Reimbursement directly to districts or an honorarium of $75 each day for committee members who are not under contractual obligations for the dates of the meeting. The Department will provide a certificate with contact hours following the meetings.

For questions or to express your willingness to participate, please contact Wendy Stoica at Wendy.Stoica@education.ohio.gov or 614-644-7307.

Make Your Voices Heard for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

The stakeholder survey for the Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) closes Friday, May 3. Stakeholder feedback is an essential component of the AASCD and prior surveys have helped to make important improvements. This anonymous survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes and is open to the public. Please share this survey with any intervention specialist, special education director, parent, or other individuals who may have feedback on the alternate assessment. This survey requests feedback about the following:

Alternate Assessment Participation Decision-Making Tool
Alternate Assessment Communications
AASCD Testing
Assistive Technology
Your overall AASCD experience

Feedback gathered from this survey will be used to inform future policies and procedures for the AASCD.

Complete Survey