New Title/New Criteria for Nurse Award

Formerly known as the Ohio PTA School Nurse Award

DEADLINE: February 1st in the Ohio PTA Office

Health Service Staff Award Application

Federal Appropriations Update from National PTA

Congress reached agreement on bills to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2020. The bills, which are expected to be signed by President Trump, include a $4.9 billion increase for Labor-HHS-Education and will provide funding for some key National PTA priorities. 

Significantly, the bills allot $12.5 million for research into firearm injury and mortality prevention. Statewide Family Engagement Centers, a key National PTA priority, will receive $10 million – less than the $15 million originally appropriated by the House but good news, nonetheless. The spending bills also include increases to Head Start, Child Care Development Block Grants, Student Support and Academic Enrichment State Grants, Title I grants and IDEA grants. 

Finally, the agreement provides more than $23 billion for child nutrition programs, which will allow all eligible children to participate in the free and reduced-price school meal program and increase participation in the Summer Food Service program.

Government Affairs

National PTA^® 

1250 N. Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

For $5 (the cost of a fancy cup of coffee), you can support children by joining Ohio PTA today! https://my.cheddarup.com/c/ohioptapartnership

Important Membership Meeting - SAVE THE DATE!

Save the date! 

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 

7PM to 8PM

Zoom into Membership webinar

Join Ohio PTA Membership Chair, Janice Wanko, and Ohio PTA President, Ana Chapman on January 8 to discuss how membership is a great way to engage with parents, teachers and the community! Westlake Elementary PTA will share their wonderful membership practices and National PTA will give us a membership tip or two!

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Jan 8, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada); so that's 7:00 PM in Ohio!
Register in advance for this membership meeting:
https://pta.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZQsdO-vqjIoQSr0roKFbPYuUmOPDI0EVQ

CELEBRATE SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH IN JANUARY

Learn more at https://bit.ly/2oLemd7

#MembershipMonday

Thanks European PTA​ for the photo. 👍
There is still time to join your local school PTA and/or join the Ohio Partnership PTA to support children in 2019❗️ For less than a fancy cup of coffee - $5 to join today https://my.cheddarup.com/c/ohioptapartnership

Happy Holidays!

From our house to yours...

114th Annual Ohio PTA Convention Workshops and Presenters

Ohio PTA is seeking AWESOME WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTERS for the 114th Annual Ohio PTA Convention in Columbus, Ohio, at Embassy Suites Dublin, April 17 to April 19, 2020. Proposals are due by December 7, 2019. For more information or to complete the Call for Workshop Proposals, please follow this link: OPTA Convention Workshop Proposal

https://forms.gle/79km1AW6yJZLKXrH6

Parent Trends Webinar by Learning Heroes Webinar

Join us on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:00pm EST for a Learning Heroes webinar highlighting trends and insights from four years of research with parents and guardians about their children’s education.

REGISTER HERE

After four years of surveying K-8 parents and guardians, Learning Heroes has uncovered startling trends that have significant implications for our individual and collective work. We’re eager to delve into these insights with you, as well as share our latest survey results from high school teachers and parents of high school students. Please join Bibb Hubbard, Founder & President of Learning Heroes, who will present this research and discuss implications with Ralph Smith, Managing Director, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. We hope you will explore these trends with us, and engage in a discussion about what's next in our collective efforts to prioritize parents and guardians by providing them with a clear and accurate picture of their child’s achievement and success.  Register today and join us on December 4th for the live webinar!

David Park SVP, Strategy & Communications Learning Heroes dpark@learningheroes.org

Equity in IDEA: Expanding significant disproportionality reporting

Equity in IDEA: Expanding significant disproportionality reporting The U.S. Department of Education has updated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulations to better determine if districts have a disproportionate representation of students from any racial or ethnic group in their special education programs. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act protects the rights of students with disabilities of all races and ethnicities to access high-quality, free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment possible. The change in federal regulations expands the equity categories states must monitor for disproportionality and requires states to work with stakeholders to adopt a common methodology for identifying disproportionality. Disproportionality occurs when children from any racial or ethnic group are identified for special education, placed in more restrictive settings, or disciplined at a markedly higher rate than their peers. Disproportionality becomes significant when the overrepresentation exceeds a threshold defined by each state. The Office for Exceptional Children called on a representative group of Ohio special education stakeholders to develop Ohio’s new methodology for calculating significant disproportionality. Districts exceeding the established threshold for three consecutive years must do a root-cause analysis and address the contributing factors, using 15 percent of their federal special education funds. The Ohio Department of Education’s implementation of the new regulations will be reflected in Ohio’s 2019-2020 district Special Education Profiles, targeted for release in late January 2020. This year’s district profile will include a new Disproportionality section showing the district’s longitudinal data in each category and notifying the district of any required actions. For more information on the impact of the revised regulations for Ohio’s school districts, click here. The Department is working with state support teams and regional data leads to provide technical assistance for districts addressing significant disproportionality. Ohio’s Plan to Improve Learning Experiences and Outcomes for Students with Disabilities will include recommendations to ensure equitable access and prevent disproportionality. To learn more about the plan’s development, click here. The plan supports the state’s focus on educational equity outlined in Each Child, Our Future, Ohio’s five-year strategic plan for education. For answers to questions, please contact the Office for Exceptional Children.

National PTA Statement on Shooting at Saugus High School

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Nov. 14, 2019)—National PTA President Leslie Boggs issued the following statement on the shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Calif.:

“National PTA is both deeply saddened and angry to hear of the shooting today at Saugus High School. This is yet one more day that a child won’t make it home from school.

“While the shooting was occurring at Saugus High School today, the Senate again failed to advance the Background Check Expansion Act, a common-sense measure that can and will save lives. For years, we have called for action and we’ve said, ‘Enough is enough!’ Yet again we are met by only ‘thoughts and prayers’ from our elected leaders. Our children and families deserve more than thoughts and prayers. Continuing to merely do nothing is unacceptable.

“The question our association must, once again, ask is, will our elected officials, including our president, continue to do nothing? We demand that Congress and the president act immediately in the best interest of our children, families and nation.

“National PTA demands that our leaders take action and put laws in place that address our nation’s gun violence epidemic and the ease of access to firearms and weapons of war to protect our children and families. Our association urges the immediate adoption of legislation that would strengthen background checks, ban assault weapons and prevent persons who may endanger public safety from accessing guns. 

“In September, National PTA’s Board of Directors added to a long list of many advocacy activities over the years. We amended the association’s position statement on Gun Safety and Violence Prevention to reinforce our unwavering call for universal background checks and the adoption of ‘red flag’ laws, among other measures that will decrease gun violence and make our schools and communities safer for everyone. I also testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in support of universal background checks. Additionally, our association sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to bring the Background Check Expansion Act to the floor and facilitate its passage in the Senate.

“For nearly 30 years, National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures, while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection. It has been and remains a top priority of the association to prevent and eliminate violence in schools, communities and at home; promote safety for children; make sure the needs of the whole child are met and ensure every child reaches their full potential.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

2020 Legislative Conference!

Today’s the day! National PTA is excited to announce that Early Bird registration for the 2020 Legislative Conference (LegCon) is now open! LegCon is your opportunity to network with fellow PTA leaders, hear PTA advocacy success stories and practice the latest skills to shape public policy at all levels. LegCon will take place  March 10-12, 2020 in Alexandria, VA. Visit the dedicated LegCon page on National PTA’s website to learn more.

We want as many PTA members as possible to benefit from the opportunity to attend LegCon. To achieve that, we need your help. Please reach out to your state and local PTA members to make sure they know about LegCon and encourage them to attend. The attached social media toolkit is designed to provide sample social media and newsletter messages that can be used to share information about LegCon Early Bird registration with PTA leaders in your states.

Please note that Early Bird registration will close on January 3, 2020 at which time regular registration will launch. Please only use the attached social media toolkit for posts prior to January 3. You will be provided a second toolkit focused on regular registration closer to the end of Early Bird registration.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Government Affairs at LegCon@PTA.org.

Apply to share your PTA’s Advocacy Story!

Has your PTA advocated effectively for change at the local, state or federal level? Does your PTA have a strategy for advancing National PTA’s Public Policy Agenda? We want to hear from you! This year, National PTA’s Legislative Conference will feature PTA Advocacy Spotlights – a chance for state, regional or local PTAs to share stories of an issue that inspired them to take action for kids. Apply today to share your PTA’s advocacy story through the PTA Advocacy Spotlights! 

The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 12. 

Perkins Grants!

The Ohio Department of Education, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, is holding public hearings on Ohio’s four-year (Fiscal Years 2020-2023) career and technical education plan, per the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V). This law reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, known as Perkins IV. Perkins V makes key changes to implementing career-technical education programs and administrative processes.

Ohio Department of Education staff will present a draft of Ohio’s plan and take comments during the two public comment hearings:

• Wednesday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m., Pike County Career Technology Center, 175 Beaver Creek Rd. Piketon; and
• Wednesday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m., Sandusky High School/Career Center, 2130 Hayes Ave., Sandusky.

For answers to general questions about the public hearings, contact Rhedeshia Young-Willingham or call (614) 387-6001.

Census 101 / What, Why & When

FEATURED EVENT  Brecksville, North Olmsted, Parma and South Euclid-Lyndhurst branches will host Census 101: What, Why & When. The U.S. Census Bureau will discuss the importance of participation, options for responding, confidentiality and data security for a fair and inclusive count.

November 2019 Health, Welfare, and Safety Information

Link to newsletter

November 2019 Health, Welfare, and Safety

From Report to Results - A National PTA Campaign

A joint webinar by National PTA, the Data Quality Campaign and the Future of Privacy Forum, this video provides an in-depth look at the importance of education data, how parents can become better informed about student data, and what they should know about student data privacy protections.

Download the Flyer School App (search for Ohio PTA) on your mobile device to get the latest From Report To Results and Ohio PTA event information.

Not Just a Box Checking Exercise: Disaggregated Data is More than a Federal Requirement

New Brief from Data Quality Campaign, Learning Heroes and National PTA highlights how to more effectively report data on student groups

WASHINGTON (October 29, 2019) – Families and communities deserve to know whether their local schools are serving the needs of every student. But 41 states failed to include student performance information for at least one federally required student group on their report cards, and many did not include contextual language necessary for users to understand why the data is useful and how to use it. Without access to disaggregated data – information about student performance broken down by different student groups – that is easy to access and interpret, families and parents can’t understand how different groups of students are being served or act on that information.

A new brief from the Data Quality Campaign (DQC), Learning Heroes and National PTA, “Disaggregated Data: Not Just a Box Checking Exercise,” underscores that disaggregated data is not only essential for understanding how schools serve different groups of students, but also key to identifying opportunity gaps and confronting persistent barriers to student success. State leaders must make sure that families have the data they deserve to ensure that their students get a high-quality, equitable education.

“States must recognize that publicly sharing this information isn’t just a federal requirement, it’s a moral imperative. It shouldn’t fall to parents to find and decipher this information about how schools are serving their children,” said DQC President and CEO Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger. “Families and communities deserve this information – and failing to publicly share it represents a fundamental lack of transparency. As states continue to improve their state-level report cards, they have an obligation to show families and communities that state leaders know this information is valuable and that they want to share it with those who need it to make the right decisions for students.”

State leaders also need to consider their audience when talking about school and student data, as terms like “disaggregation” and “subgroup” can be unfamiliar and even offensive. The brief urges state leaders to consider replacing the outdated term “subgroups” with “groups of students” and defining disaggregation as information broken down by different student groups.

"From our extensive research among a diverse set of parents and guardians, we’ve clearly heard that disaggregated data without specific context around the purpose and intended use is often misinterpreted by parents as an exercise in shaming," said Learning Heroes Founder and President Bibb Hubbard. “The purpose behind the data is to ensure all student groups' needs are being met, and that context is critical. We've been encouraged by the states that have already led the way and look forward to many more to follow.”

State leaders can communicate the value of disaggregated data by:

·       making the data easier to find on school report cards – their most public-facing resource on school quality; and 

·       adding context for the data, including more complete explanations so that users understand why it is being shared and how they could use it to advocate for their students and schools.

“Parents want and deserve meaningful data and transparency on how schools are educating students like theirs. Being empowered with this information is critical to ensure their child is provided a high-quality education and opportunities to reach their full potential,” said National PTA President Leslie Boggs. “It is essential that states make sure report cards and data are accessible and understandable to parents and ensure that schools are held accountable for providing all students with the high-quality education they deserve.”

###

About the Data Quality Campaign

The Data Quality Campaign is a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization leading the effort to bring every part of the education community together to empower educators, families, and policymakers with quality information to make decisions that ensure that students excel. For more information, go to www.dataqualitycampaign.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@EdDataCampaign).

About Learning Heroes

Learning Heroes informs and equips parents to support their children’s academic and developmental success. Through unprecedented parent research, development of research-based communications, and partnerships with local and national organizations (including local and state education agencies, civil rights organizations, parent organizations, and more), we work to give parents a more accurate and complete picture of their child’s achievement so they can better advocate on behalf of their child. For more information, visit www.bealearninghero.org.

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

Recruiting Parents and Caregivers for the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement State Advisory Council Deadline Extended!

Recruiting Parents and Caregivers for the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement State Advisory Council Deadline Extended!  Applications are due by November 15, 2019. The Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center is recruiting parent and caregiver members for our State Advisory Council.  We are seeking a diverse group of parents and caregivers of children birth to Grade 12 from all regions of Ohio (particularly rural regions). Individuals are invited to apply to be a part of this wonderful opportunity to share your ideas about how Ohio families and schools can work together to support the education of all children.  Applications are limited to parents and caregivers who are not professional educators or administrators. Please click below for more information and to apply today! https://ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/state-advisory-council/