Ohio Department of Education
Release date: 8/17/2017
The 2017-2018 academic year is under way across Ohio, and the Ohio Department of Education has some great resources for families as our children head back to the classroom. Here are the top 10 things to know this year:
- Students in the class of 2018 have multiple pathways to earn a high school diploma so they can move on to their next steps in education or a career. This fact sheet helps explain those options.
- High school seniors can boost their earning power when they graduate from high school with an industry-recognized credential. The Senior Only Credential Program is for students in their senior year who have completed most of their curriculum requirements. Find out more about how an industry-recognized credential can be part of a student’s path to graduation by clicking here.
- Create an Ohio Means Jobs K-12 Backpack: With this tool, middle and high school students can explore career interests, launch career plans, build resumes and search for job options. Get started and build yours today.
- Early learning experiences last a lifetime. It is key that all families have access to early childhood education information about high-quality early care, preschool, kindergarten and other educational settings to prepare young children for a lifetime of learning and success. The Department has a wide variety of resources for parents of our youngest students.
- Special education, for students ages 3 to 21, is guided by federal and state requirements. The Department has created A Guide to Parent Rights in Special Education.
- The ability to read is the foundation of learning. Research shows that children who are not reading at a third grade level by the end of grade 3 are likely to have trouble learning in all classroom subjects in higher grades. The Department has resources for families related to early literacy and the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
- Homeless students have rights to the same education as any other student in Ohio. The Department has developed a helpful brochure, A Parent’s Guide to the Rights of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness.
- Keep our schools and students safe: The free SaferOH tip line allows students and adults to anonymously share information with school officials and law enforcement about threats to student safety — whether that involves a threatened mass incident or harm to a single student. Calls or texts to 844-SaferOH (844-723-3764) are accepted and answered 24 hours a day. Click here for more information.
- Ohio families can now get the latest education news, search for schools in their neighborhoods and look at their schools’ report cards right from their smartphones or iPads using the new Ohio Department of Education mobile app. Download the app at education.ohio.gov/App.
- Join the conversation: Sign up for text alerts from the Ohio Department of Education at education.ohio.gov/Text.
