Substitute flexibility extended for two years

Late in 2021, the Ohio General Assembly included a provision in S.B. 1 to allow school districts to hire an individual as a substitute teacher, for the 2021-22 school year only, if the individual met the requirements established by the district, was deemed of good moral character and successfully completed a background check.

Licensure Requirements for Substitute Teachers

The licensure requirements for substitute teachers in Ohio will undergo significant changes once Senate Bill 216 (SB 216) goes into effect on July 1. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) formerly issued both Long Term five-year, and Short Term one-year substitute licenses under Revised Code (RC) section 3319.226.

New ODE Certification Guidance

On February 15, Ohio school districts received a guidance document from the Ohio Department of Education’s (ODE) Office of Educator Licensure designed to help schools and teachers meet the new July 1

Licensure changes

ODE proposes amendments to rules on licenses for substitutes and alternative resident educators

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recently filed a set of rule amendments related to temporary licenses. In part, the changes proposed by ODE are based on legislative amendments and on feedback from school districts.  Among the key rule amendments are:

Truancy, teachers and technology

This week's blog post focuses on three tidbits of educational news involving Ohio’s truancy laws, the new reading tests required for some teaching licenses, and a policy brief on the educational use of technology for young children. 

Senate education committee to focus on truancy

A Reminder for Coaches: Permits and Background Checks

Employees and volunteers that direct, supervise, or coach a student activity program that involves athletics, routine or regular physical activity, or activities with health and safety considerations must obtain a pupil activity permit.  The Ohio Department of Education issued a recent reminder to begin the process for the application of pupil activity permits for coaches.

State Board considers CQEs

Last month, the State Board of Education considered the first application for a pupil activity permit from a felony ex-offender holding a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE). Created by Senate Bill 337 in 2012, the CQE process allows persons who have a previous felony or misdemeanor conviction to apply to the court in their county of residence to lift collateral sanctions that prohibit an individual from being considered for employment in certain fields, including education.  As of May 20, 2015, just over 300 CQEs have been issued in Ohio.