Ohio Department of Education

The Ohio Department of Education would like to hear from interested stakeholders about the proposed usage of the one-year waiver flexibilities for the Every Student Succeeds Act state plan. Please provide feedback by Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Please email all input to eseawaiver@education.ohio.gov.  

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kcqu8pQml36K2t9bQpZ2kJpV03Sv7LMA/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ApwoUDd4ImJO_pTkpyJ2Xp8E9mhrrDki/view?usp=sharing

Case Western Reserve Research Study / COVID 19

Dear Parents: We know that #COVID19 has made this year different from any other year for you. If you have a child between 5-17 years old, consider sharing your experience in this Case Western Reserve research study: https://bit.ly/2HRmCmv. #parenting #quarantine

2020-2021 Reflection Program Winners

 

2020-2021 Reflections Winners

RACISM Is A Public Health Crisis

 RACISM Is A Public Health Crisis

Impacts On Health, Healthcare Access, And Quality of Care

2-Part Series: Wednesday, April 7 & April 14 -- 7pm ET

REGISTER HERE

Moderators: ​
Rick Jackson, Senior Host & Producer, ideastream, WCPN/NPR, WVIZ/PBS​
Marlene Harris-Taylor, Managing Producer, Health News, ideastream, WCPN/NPR, WVIZ/PBX

​FEATURING:
Ohio House Minority Leader, State Representative Emilia Strong Sykes
Cuyahoga County Council Representative Shontel Brown
Akron City Council President Margo Sommerville
Kathleen Clyde, former Portage County Commissioner
​Dr. Frederick Harris, Health Co-Chair, Ohio NAACP, Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Ronald Hickman, Jr., Assoc. Dean for Res., Assoc. Prof., Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University
Iris Harvey, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
Yvonka Marie Hall, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition
David Maywhoor, Executive Director, Ohio Public Health Association

PART 1:  Wednesday, April 7, 2021 -- 7pm ET

Meet the state, county, and city leaders who forcefully name racism as a public health crisis. Hear why they prioritize the health and safety of communities of color, and how they engage key stakeholders and area communities to dismantle the systems, infrastructures, and belief systems that perpetuate systemic racism. Learn about the impact their leadership is having on Northeast Ohio and what lies ahead.

MODERATOR
Rick Jackson
​Senior Host & Producer
ideastream, WCPN/NPR WVIZ/PBS

FEATURING

Ohio House Minority Leader State Representative ​(D-Akron), Dist 34 Emilia Strong Sykes BIO

Cuyahoga County Council Representative Shontel Brown BIO President Margo Sommerville ​Akron City Council BIO​

Kathleen Clyde Former Commissioner Portage County ​BIO

PART 2: Wednesday, April 14, 2021 -- 7pm ET​

Meet the frontline healthcare providers, program directors, researchers, and public policy experts combating health disparities, inequities, and discrimination. The panel will address chronic health issues such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, poor women's health, infant mortality -- and explain the barriers and obstacles to quality healthcare. Learn how their clinical and community approaches are mitigating and preventing racialized health disparities for children, adults, and seniors.

MODERATOR
Marlene Harris-Taylor
​Managing Producer, Health News
ideastream, WCPN/NPR, WVIZ/PBS

FEATURING
​

Dr. Frederick Harris Internal Medicine ​Cleveland Clinic ​Health Co-Chair Ohio NAACP ​BIO Dr. Ronald Hickman, Jr. Assoc. Dean for Research, Assoc. Prof. Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Case Western Reserve University BIO Iris Harvey President and CEO Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio BIO Yvonka Marie Hall Executive Director Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition ​BIO

David Maywhoor Executive Director Ohio Public Health Association ​BIO

With Special Thanks To:

A Year into the Pandemic: Parents’ Perspectives on Academics, Assessments, and Education

 

A Year into the Pandemic: Parents’ Perspectives on Academics, Assessments, and Education Please Join National PTA and Learning Heroes on Thursday March 25 at 1pm ET / 10 am PT for “A Year into the Pandemic: Parents’ Perspectives on Academics, Assessments, and Education”. The webinar will feature the data from our recent national parent poll, conducted by Edge Research, and include findings on parent perceptions of learning during the pandemic, their greatest concerns for their children, and how they feel about academics and assessments given the unprecedented circumstances of the past year.  REGISTER

Know! Online Predators On The Rise

 

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a web page. Know! Online Predators On The Rise It is no surprise that young people are racking up more time on their electronic devices for both work and play due to the pandemic. What you may not know is that the presence of online predators has also increased as well as their chances of gaining access to our children. Human trafficking is a $150 billion global industry that experts say is on the rise, especially online. In an interview with a local television station in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, prosecutors Melissa Hoppmeyer and Kathryn Marsh shared that children between the ages of 11 to 14 are being highly recruited by sex traffickers. They say these abusers are master manipulators that seek out both girls and boys they believe to be vulnerable. They are commonly connecting with unsuspecting youth through online gaming and in chatrooms. The abuser will coerce a child into sharing a risqué photo for example, and then the blackmailing begins. The child is then told to share more sexually explicit content or face the consequences. Out of fear, the young person may send another photo or video to comply, and just like that, they are pulled in even deeper. Many people find it hard to that believe human trafficking is occurring in their “bubble,” but the unfortunate reality is that it can and does occur in all types of communities, neighborhoods and homes. Young people must be told early and reminded often that they are not to communicate with strangers online; only with people they know. It may seem like a silly thing to have to say, since we’ve been telling them not to talk to strangers their whole lives. But there are sites and apps that encourage our children to do just that…talk to strangers. One such site that has blown up in popularity since the pandemic is Omegle. Omegle is a free online chatting site that promotes itself as, “a great way to meet new friends, even while practicing social distancing.” The site says that users must be 18 + years old or 13 + and have parental permission.” But there is no age verification or place for acquired parental permission. The user has many options at this point. They can text or video chat with someone unknown, or go into spy mode, where they pose a question and quietly watch as two strangers discuss the answer. The user can also choose an “unmoderated” chat, which says, “by clicking on this button you are more than likely to encounter sexual behavior,” or “adult” mode that says “the user will encounter sexual material.” At the click of the chosen button, the site picks someone at random for the user to chat with by text or video. Names are not given. The users are referred to as “You” and “Stranger.” The site also states that predators are known to use Omegle. Profanity, pornography and predators: the danger exists on Omegle and within a multitude of other sites and apps that lure young people in and links them with strangers of all ages. Human traffickers are shrewd and cunning. They know how and where to connect with and hook young people. Aside from full parental lockdown of the internet, our best line of defense in protecting our children against the dangers that lurk online is being aware of what is out there and talking with our daughters and sons about it; having open, honest conversations on what may feel like a difficult topic. We are not suggesting scare tactics, but we are encouraging you to let them know there are dangerous people with criminal intentions who prey on unsuspecting youth. Children must also know without a doubt that if they do find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, however it is that they got there, that we as their parents and protectors, will be there to love them and help them through it always. To report suspected human trafficking activity and get help, contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at 1-866-347-2423 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year, or submit a tip online at ice.gov/tips. Sources FOX6 News Milwaukee, Derica Williams: Human trafficking a $150B industry; ages 11-14 highly recruited. Jan 2021. Parentology, Kristina Cappetta: Omegle – The Dangerous New Chat Site Where Kids Meet Strangers. Oct 2020. About Know! Parent Tips Everyone has a role in prevention. By reading and sharing this Know! Parent Tip today, you’re doing your part to prevent substance misuse and create a healthier world for all. We created these free parent tips to empower parents like you. Know! helps you promote health and wellness and protect the young person in your life from unhealthy behaviors, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. However, we rely on donations from people like you to provide these tips. If you found this tip interesting or helpful, please consider donating at preventionactionalliance.org/donate. Know! Parent Tips are provided by Prevention Action Alliance with support from the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, the Ohio Department of Education, and Start Talking!. Know! Parent Tips are also available in Spanish at the Know! archives.

 

National PTA Announces New Process for Proposed Resolutions and Bylaws Amendments   To provide for the safety of our members, delegates, volunteers and staff, National PTA’s Annual Convention will be held virtually this year. During this year's Virtual Convention, delegates will have the opportunity to vote on proposed resolutions and proposed bylaws amendments.   Due to the limitations of conducting business with hundreds of delegates in a virtual setting, however, there will not be debate nor amendments on either the proposed resolutions or the proposed bylaws amendments during the Convention. Instead, input, feedback and voting on the proposed resolutions and bylaws amendments will be handled differently. New Process for 2021 Virtual Convention From March 22 through April 9, 2021: Members who wish to comment on the proposed bylaws amendments may do so by using the comment form linked within each bylaws amendment document on the Proposed Resolutions and Bylaws Amendments webpage. Members who wish to comment on the proposed resolutions may do so by using the comment form located toward the bottom of the same webpage. Receipt of each comment will be acknowledged after clicking Done at the end of each form. The comment period will close Friday, April 9, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. All comments will be shared with National PTA’s Bylaws and Resolutions Committees. The Committees will review and consider every comment and may use those comments to recommend amendments to the National PTA Board of Directors. The Board of Directors must approve any changes to the proposed resolutions or bylaws amendments submitted by the respective Committees. The final version of the proposed resolutions and the proposed bylaws amendments will be posted on the webpage Monday, May 3. After this date, the proposed resolutions and bylaws amendments cannot be changed. Registered Convention delegates who are credentialed to vote will have the opportunity to vote “For” or “Against” each proposed bylaws amendment and each proposed resolution via an electronic vote Thursday, June 17. Announcements of the voting results will be made during the week of the Virtual Convention. Make Your Comments Questions? For any questions on the proposed bylaws amendments or the proposed resolutions, please email the Bylaws Committee at Bylaws@PTA.org or the Resolutions Committee at Resolutions@PTA.org.

Math Rocks!

Ohio PTA and Ohio Department of Education are looking for parent volunteers to help with the Strengthening Ohio's High School Math Pathways Initiative !! 

Purpose: To support the Strengthening Ohio’s High School Math Pathways Initiative by advising the Ohio Department of Education on what resources should be contained in a Parent Toolkit on the Department’s webpage when the initiative launches in Fall 2021. CLICK HERE for more information about the initiative.

Commitment:

• 1 virtual meeting in May that gives an overview of the initiative (approximately 1 hour)
• 1 virtual meeting in May or June where the group collaboratively brainstorms what resources should be in a parent toolkit (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes)
• Review resources and provide feedback that ODE may send via email
• 1 virtual meeting in late summer to review the ODE created material

If you would like to be considered for this opportunity, please complete THIS FORM.

A member from the Ohio Department of Education will follow up if you are selected to participate. Selections are based upon ensuring a diverse parent group, representing different geographic locations in the state and type of school(urban, rural, suburban).