One of the more intriguing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the changeover of board of education meetings from live, to electronic or remote, and back to live. When the pandemic began, state law in Ohio required public boards, including boards of education, to hold their meetings in person. In March 2020, the Ohio General Assembly passed…
Posted by Ralph Lusher III on
The United States Department of Education's (DOE) Office for Civil Rights recently released a guidance document: Questions and Answers on Civil Rights and School Reopening in the COVID-19 Environment. The guide provides some answers to common questions about schools' responsibilities under the civil rights laws with an emphasis on the different situations that have occurred or may occur with special education students.
One of the first questions is about each school’s obligation to provide FAPE…
Posted by Sara C. Clark on
In early 2021, Governor DeWine signed HB 436…
Posted by Jennifer A. Hardin on
The deadline for districts to file blended learning declarations for the 2021-22 school year is July 1, 2021. As districts are considering their options to best serve students next year, one important factor is understanding the extent to which students can access learning from home.
One tool districts could use to assist with that effort is the recently…
Posted by Van D. Keating on
Back on Dec. 16, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued …
Posted by Sara C. Clark on
The Ohio Ethics law requires certain elected officials, candidates for elected offices…
Posted by Ralph Lusher III on
Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recently published new graduation pathways for the 2020-21 school year that are derived from the recently enacted House Bill 67. The first pathway is curriculum-only. The second pathway is curriculum requirements and OhioMeansJobs-readiness Seal. Both pathways help students gain their diploma during a highly…
Posted by Jennifer A. Hardin on
There have been a few important new guidance documents issued from the Ohio Departments of Education (ODE) and Health (ODH). Here’s a quick overview of their key elements.
ODH guidance document
On April 8, ODH issued the Director’s Amended Order for Social Distancing, Facial Coverings and Non-Congregating. The order…
Posted by Van D. Keating on
On April 1, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released additional information regarding Remote Learning Pathway Considerations 2021-2022. For the 2020-21 school year, the Ohio legislature gave districts additional flexibility to…
Posted by Ralph Lusher III on
Many board members question if they have a conflict of interest whether due to relationships, attempting to sell goods or services to the public agency they serve, or seeking employment with the agency they serve. Also, candidates for boards of education question whether they will have a conflict of interest if elected because of their current job or another public position they hold. …