eBRIEF! FAST NEWS FOR BUSY EDUCATORS
JANUARY 2014
SPECIAL ALERT!
IEP NO LONGER SERVES AS PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE TO FAMILIES
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) may no longer serve as prior written notice even if the parent agrees with the content of the IEP.
Memorandum 2013-1 outlines the change to Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 3301-51-05 (H)(4)(c). Questions regarding the change in this
provision may be sent to Exceptionalchildren@education.ohio.gov. Additional guidance will be provided in January to assist in implementation
of this new requirement.
SSTR1 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
NEW! UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR LEARNING OVERVIEW WEBINAR
The Universal Design for Learning Overview will introduce the principles of UDL and present information on a framework to reduce barriers and
maximize learning opportunities for all students. Information will be available for districts regarding a series of professional development
opportunities hosted by State Support Team Region 1 and the Universal Design for Learning Center at OCALI. The Universal Design for Learning
Overview will take place on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (EST). Information is available from
http://www.sstr1.org/?p=18498.
MULTIPLE OPTIONS TO ENGAGE ALL STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS
Multiple OPTIONS to Engage All Students in Mathematics, presented by Mary E. Little, Ph.D., is a series that will provide strategies, resources
and materials to participants to use in their classrooms to teach mathematics that address Ohio’s New Learning Standards. The series is
composed on two face-to-face sessions on January 23 and February 27, as well as an interactive webinar on February 13, 2014. The face-to-face
sessions will be 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Information is available from http://pd.sstr1.org. Registration is through STARS:
https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal.
ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT TRAINING
Full-Day Training
The Alternate Assessment for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) training will be offered regionally. The full-day training is
for teachers who are new to Alternate Assessment or did not attend the full-day training during the 2012-2013 school year. All full-day sessions
will take place from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. The dates and locations are listed below:
January 28, 2014 ______________ Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center
January 30, 2014 ______________ Wood County Educational Service Center
Half-Day Refresher Sessions
The half-day refresher sessions are for those who have attended the full-day alternate assessment training during the 2012-2013 school year.
Half-day sessions will be presented twice (morning and afternoon). Participants need only to register for and attend one half-day session, as
the session repeats. The morning session will take place from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.; the afternoon session will take place from 12.30 p.m. to
3.30 p.m. The dates and locations are listed below:
January 21, 2014 ______________ Wood County Educational Service Center: Morning | Afternoon
January 24, 2014 ______________ Vantage Career Center: Morning | Afternoon
Registration is through STARS: https://safe.ode.state.oh.us/portal.
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS MEETINGS
State Support Team staff will share and disseminate information that local education agencies need to continue their work in lessening the
achievement gap for students with disabilities. Updates from the Ohio Department of Education and other pertinent information will be
provided. Time will be spent examining current educational topics that facilitate the work of districts and schools pertaining to students with
disabilities. The dates include January 29, March 18, and May 7, 2014. Information is available from http://pd.sstr1.org.
AT NETWORK: BUILDING AT INTO TEAMS (NOTE JANUARY DATE CHANGE)
The Assistive Technology (AT) Network focuses on developing practices and procedures for incorporating assistive technology into instructional
practices for students with disabilities. Two sessions (morning and afternoon) will be provided on each date to allow for scheduling flexibility.
The network is facilitated by Tanya Braden, Ed.S., on January 22, March 12, and May 16, 2014. Information is available from http://pd.sstr1.org.
STATE | FEDERAL EDUCATION UPDATES
START STRONG: NEW WAY TO DETERMINE KINDERGARTEN READINESS
In fall 2014, a new kindergarten readiness assessment called Start Strong will replace the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment – Literacy (KRA-L).
Start Strong will give kindergarten teachers a comprehensive picture of a child’s learning and development at kindergarten entry, pinpointing
where each child is in physical well-being and motor development, language and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies and social skills.
Teachers will have from the first day of school until November 1, 2014, to complete the assessment. The language and literacy portion may be
used to meet the reading diagnostic assessment requirement of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee for kindergarten if those items are
administered by September 30, 2014.
Between April and September 2014, all kindergarten teachers will receive training on Start Strong, including score reporting and using the data.
The Ohio Department of Education will make the training schedule available soon. Contact the department’s Office of Early Learning and School
Readiness at 614-995-9974 or ELSR@education.ohio.gov with questions.
DEAFBLIND CHILD COUNT
The Ohio Center for Deafblind Education (OCDBE) will be conducting the 2013 census beginning January 6 through February 15, 2014. The
Deafblind Child Count is a registration of children ages birth through 21 who have the combination of vision loss and hearing loss. OCDBE is
required under federal regulation to identify deafblind children in Ohio on a yearly census. The Deafblind Child Count is part of the national
child count efforts through the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and does not require parental consent or violate FERPA, as outlined
in Reg. 99.31. Information is available from http://www.sstr1.org/?p=18454.
GOVERNOR’S NEW EFFORT TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE: START TALKING!
Start Talking! is a new effort aimed at preventing drug abuse among Ohio’s children. The majority of substance-free adolescents credit parents
for the decision not to use illegal substances. Likewise, teachers and other authority figures can have a similar influence on youth and their
decision-making. The Start Talking! initiative was developed to
• Help parents understand the risks to their children and empower them with simple, effective strategies to act;
• Provide programming for schools to reinforce the positive messages children should be hearing at home;
• Encourage peer-to-peer conversations among high school youth to promote healthy lifestyles; and
• Focus on building resiliency in our youth so that they have the necessary emotional tools to resist substance use.
Information is available from http://www.starttalking.ohio.gov.
USDOE ANNOUNCES SCHOOL DISCIPLINE GUIDANCE PACKAGE
The U.S. Department of Education, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, released a school discipline guidance package that will
assist states, districts and schools in developing practices and strategies to enhance school climate, and ensure those policies and practices
comply with federal law. The guidance package provides resources for creating safe and positive school climates, which are essential for
boosting student academic success and closing achievement gaps. Information is available from www.ed.gov/school-discipline.
CONFERENCES | WORKSHOPS
OHIO EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 2014
Ohio is a national leader in educational technology. OETC 2014 gives P-20 educators a comprehensive look into Learning in Ohio: Where we are,
Where we are going, and How do we get there. Through internationally-known keynote and featured speakers, as well as over 350 educational
sessions, attendees will explore and experience all that educational technology in Ohio has to offer. The conference will take place January 27
through 29, 2014, in Columbus. Information is available from http://oetc.ohio.gov.
BRAILLE WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
To increase Braille literacy and to increase access to and the availability of meaningful and quality Braille materials, the Ohio State School for
the Blind’s Center for Instructional Supports and Accessible Materials (CISAM) is sponsoring free Braille weekend workshops for students in
grades seven through 12 who are blind or visually impaired and are current Braille users. The workshops will take place on February 8, March 8,
and April 5, 2014, at the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus. Parents must make transportation arrangements for each participant.
Information is available by calling the Ohio State School for the Blind superintendent’s office at 614.752.1152 or visiting
http://www.ossb.oh.gov. Registration ends January 31, 2014.
SAVE THE DATE: OUT OF SIGHT – ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Out of Sight: Assistive Technology Conference for Parents, Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired, and the Professionals who Serve
Them will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2014, in Columbus. The conference will feature a keynote, breakout sessions, AT vendors and
demonstrations. This event is sponsored by the BEST Grant, CISAM, the Ohio Center for Deafblind Education, and the Ohio State School for the
Blind. Information is available from Julie Pashovich at 614.644.8386 or jpashovich@cisamoh.org.
PROJECT APPROACH RFP GRANT RECIPIENTS
The Project Approach offers teachers ways to build upon the natural curiosity of children to learn through in-depth investigation of a topic or
project. This approach affords children opportunities for inquiry, higher order thinking, communication, problem solving, perseverance,
collaboration, critical thinking and discovery and allows them to construct real meaning that extends well beyond the classroom. This approach
provides teachers a curricular approach that naturally aligns to all of the common core standards and early learning and developmental
standards, embeds STEM, and provides the context for using technology in meaningful ways in the classroom.
Teams of preschool, kindergarten and/or primary level educators from school districts, child care centers and Head Start programs served by
the State Support Team Region 1 were eligible to apply. The State Support Team Region 1 is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 Project
Approach grant recipients:
• Washington Preschool (Findlay City Schools)
• HHWWP Community Action Commission Head Start (Leipsic Head Start and Findlay Head Start Classrooms one through seven)
• HHWWP Community Action Commission Head Start (Ottawa Head Start Classrooms one and two)
• Sandusky County YMCA
• St. John Lutheran (Defiance City Schools)
• St. John Lutheran Preschool (Defiance City Schools)
• WSOS Community Action Agency (Fostoria City Schools)
• WSOS Community Action Agency (Fremont City Schools)
SSTR1 HOME | CONTACT US | STARS | EDUCATION.OHIO.GOV |
STATE SUPPORT TEAM REGION 1 . 800.346.8495 . 419.720.8999 . 2275 COLLINGWOOD BOULEVARD . SUITE C . TOLEDO . OHIO . 43620
There are no copyright restrictions on this document/product/software; however, please cite and credit the source when copying all or part of this document/product/software. This document/product/software was supported in whole or
in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, (Award #H027A130158, CFDA 84.027A, awarded to the Ohio Department of Education). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the
policy or position of the U.S. Department of Education,Office of Special Education Programs, and no official endorsement by the Department should be inferred.
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