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Ohio Submits its ESSA
Plan to U.S. Dept of Education
The Ohio Department of Education today submitted the state’s plan, as
approved by the State Board of Education, to the U.S. Department of
Education for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Ohio’s ESSA plan specifies, to the federal government, key aspects of
Ohio’s education policy framework and reflects engagement with parents,
students, educators, and business and community leaders, as well as the
governor and General Assembly.
“The development of the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act application
has presented Ohio with an opportunity to review and refine basic
aspects of education policy and identify key elements of a road map for
student success,” said Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public
instruction.
Ohio’s ESSA plan addresses several key areas, such as:
Academic Content Standards and Assessments - The plan reflects Ohio’s
current academic content standards, including a thorough and ongoing
review of the standards by Ohio teachers for Ohio students. The plan
will accommodate any assessment changes that may be adopted as long as
federal requirements are met;
Accountability - The plan reflects the current A-F report card, as
required by state law, with changes that more appropriately recognize
improvement and gap closing and providing additional accountability and
support for English learners;
School Improvement - The plan includes strategies that support
districts and schools in planning and goal setting and assists
struggling schools with implementing evidence-based strategies; and
Educator Effectiveness - Ohio will support local schools’ and
districts’ efforts to ensure access by all students to effective
teachers and school leaders.
Ohio is placing special focus on vulnerable student populations (such
as students in foster care and homeless students) by helping schools
identify barriers to achievement and strategies to promote improvement.
To build on the state’s efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism in our
schools, Ohio has proposed using chronic absenteeism as an indicator of
school quality on the State Report Card.
As Ohio waits for final approval of its ESSA application, the
Department will work with districts and schools to begin implementation
during the 2017-2018 school year.
The Department also will intensify its work on a comprehensive
strategic plan for Ohio’s education system. This plan, launched by
Superintendent DeMaria and the State Board of Education earlier this
year, will bring stakeholders together to develop the vision, goals and
strategies that can lead Ohio’s education system to excellence.The
strategic planning process will reach beyond those areas included in
the ESSA plan and address education needs in Ohio in a more
comprehensive fashion. The State Board of Education and the Department
are engaging parents, students, educators, and business and community
leaders, as well as the governor and General Assembly. These
individuals are working in issue-specific workgroups to help create
strategies supporting improvement for all students and schools.
ESSA, which replaced the No Child Left Behind Act, requires states to
clearly articulate their plans for using federal funds to ensure
accountability for all students, create safe and supportive learning
environments, encourage innovation and extended learning opportunities,
and more.
The state requested and received input from thousands of Ohioans since
spring 2016. Using that input, the Department developed and released an
initial draft plan in February 2017. Feedback was received on the
initial draft plan and informed the development of a second draft. The
second draft was reviewed by the four State Board of Education
committees. Additional public feedback also was received. Committee and
public feedback informed the final draft that was presented to the full
State Board of Education. The State Board amended and unanimously
approved the draft plan on July 11, 2017. The draft plan was sent to
Gov. John Kasich for 30 days for review.
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