Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Understanding Each Child, Our Future: High School Success and Postsecondary Connections (Strategy 10)

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Feb. 19, 2019
Each Child, Our Future

Understanding Each Child, Our Future: High School Success and Postsecondary Connections (Strategy 10)

Each Child, Our Future is Ohio’s five-year strategic plan to ensure each student enjoys a bright future thanks to an excellent preK-12 education experience. This is the last in an 11-part series that walks EdConnection readers through the plan. This week, we take a close look at strategy 10, which promotes high school success and postsecondary connections.
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Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Ohio Department of Education Announces Partnership with Harvard to Support Rural Districts

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For Immediate Release
Feb. 7, 2019

Ohio Department of Education Announces Partnership with
Harvard to Support Rural Districts

New research center will address challenges of
chronic absenteeism, college readiness
The Ohio Department of Education and the Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR) at Harvard University has announced the award of $10 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
The grant will create a network of rural school districts that will work together to create and test solutions to the challenges of chronic absenteeism, college readiness and college enrollment in rural education.
Like CEPR’s Proving Ground initiative, the center applies a continuous improvement approach to help school districts identify and test evidence-based solutions to district challenges. The approach allows school districts to pool data across the network to uncover potential solutions and evaluate their success.
Proving Ground’s current work with urban districts in Ohio led to reduced absenteeism in the Canton City and Maple Heights City schools. Nearly $5 million of the five-year grant will support 30 rural Ohio school districts statewide. Another 30 rural districts in New York also will participate.
“We are excited that rural schools in Ohio will have this fantastic opportunity to help build their capacity to use data analysis to drive continuous improvement,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria. “Our experience with the Proving Ground program has shown that student outcomes can be positively impacted when this model is applied. We are honored to have the opportunity to expand this work.”
Since 2015, CEPR’s Proving Ground has supported partner districts by providing data analysis, strategic advice, hands-on assistance and peer networking opportunities. Ohio was selected to participate in this grant opportunity, in part, because rural districts in Ohio serve a large percent of the state’s school-age children compared to the national average.




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Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Foster Care Symposium at National Convention

Foster Care Symposium at National Convention

National PTA is looking for a PTA or PTA member in Ohio who has been working on behalf of foster care students and families.
×         Has your PTA assisted foster children or families?
×         Do you know of a PTA member who is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)?


Please contact president@ohiopta.org to learn more.
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Ohio Department of Education Announces Summer Food Service Program Plans

Ohio Banner
For Immediate Release
Feb. 6, 2019

Ohio Department of Education Announces Summer Food Service Program Plans

With the help of numerous sponsoring agencies and stakeholders, the Summer Food Service Program works to feed thousands of children in Ohio.
Despite these numbers, many Ohio parents and caregivers are forced to make difficult decisions daily in order to provide for their families. In many cases, this leaves Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens, our children and youth, struggling with hunger daily.
This year, the Ohio Department of Education wants to increase participation in summer meal programs and is actively seeking local nonprofit agencies to participate as sponsors or sites by providing free meals to children.
“During the summer months, many children worry about access to nutritious meals when they should be focused on fun activities and independent learning,” said Paolo DeMaria, state superintendent of public instruction. “The Summer Food Service Program helps fill this need in our communities by providing healthy meals in locations where students spend much of their time during the summer. The program means students can focus on what is most important during this time – playing, reading, being outdoors and growing.”
Free meals are provided at schools, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, parks, camps, community centers, swimming pools, libraries, low-income housing complexes and more.
Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursement to cover the costs of providing nutritious meals and snacks to children in eligible areas. Nonprofit organizations offering summer activities for children living in low-income areas also are encouraged to apply.
Expansion of the program is particularly needed in southern Ohio counties, where families struggle with food insecurity, as well as in rural communities and areas where migrant families reside.
The Summer Food Service Program ensures that children ages 1-18 continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer break from school, when they do not have access to school breakfast or lunch. Children with disabilities and approved individualized education programs may participate through age 21.
A sponsoring organization must be:
  • A public or nonprofit private school;
  • A public or nonprofit private residential summer camp;
  • A unit of local, municipal, county or state government;
  • A public or nonprofit college or university; or
  • A private nonprofit organization. 
The Summer Food Service Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the Ohio Department of Education.
Any organization interested in becoming a sponsor or site should complete the potential sponsor survey no later than Friday, March 1.




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Sunday, February 10, 2019

2/4 EdConnection: Understanding Each Child, Our Future - Student Supports and School Climate and Culture





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Feb. 4, 2019
Strategic Plan


Understanding Each Child, Our Future: Student Supports and School Climate and Culture (Strategy 7)

Each Child, Our Future is Ohio’s five-year strategic plan to ensure each student enjoys a bright future thanks to an excellent preK-12 education experience. This week, we take a close look at strategy 7, which deals with student supports and school climate and culture.























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Friday, February 8, 2019

Message from the President

                                                           



PTA Leaders and Members,

V is for vision, volunteer and value but of course it is also for your valentine!

This month we celebrate all the good that PTA does. We celebrate all our past successes such as hot school lunches, kindergarten, our juvenile justice system. We applaud the vision of the women who founded PTA.  February 17, Founders’ Day is an opportunity to reflect on our history and mission. It is also a time to recognize today’s volunteers and all you do for our schools and our children.

Your volunteer commitment is given from the heart because your efforts are for a cause dear to your heart- your child, your school. The power of PTA lies in its volunteers- your time, your talents and your passion. Every day you live the vision of our founders. You focus on welcoming and connecting schools and families. You fund programs that enrich the curriculum. You know the value of PTA to your school and you share that with all the people in your school community.

What is the value of PTA to your school?
×        Committed volunteers
×        Turnkey programs
×        Transformative family engagement practices
×        Community partnerships
×        Relevant resources

Consider all the grants, programs and resources available from Ohio and National PTA- things like Ohio PTA family engagement grants, Reflections, School of Excellence, STEM activities, the Every Child in Focus calendar, social media safety and tips for families and help in running your PTA. Both the National PTA and Ohio PTA websites have a wealth of information for you to explore.

Have you taken advantage of these resources and programs? I hope you will…and I hope you will also take this month to reflect on your value as a volunteer and look for more opportunities to further the mission of PTA. Will you take a different position in your unit? Move up to Council? District? State? Take a look at the slate of candidates for the OhioPTA Board of Directors or learn how to submit your name as a candidate here.

Thanks for living the PTA mission and vision of “Making Every Child’s Potential A Reality” and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Susan



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