ODE has announced that Ohio's recently updated content standards for science scored higher than those for three-quarters of the nation’s states in a study released last week by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.  These standards were developed with the input of practicing scientists and educators from the primary, secondary and postsecondary levels with the goal of strengthening the content and rigor to better reflect expectations of universities and employers.

 

Ohio is observing Digital Learning Month in February. With ODE partners eTech, INFOhio and KnowledgeWorks - ODE will share tips and tools for using digital education strategies in the classroom and at home. Click on the new digital activities banner on the ODE home web page for details, or check out ODE's new Facebook page for teachers to find tips and share your own.

 

Ohio was recently awarded a $69.9 million grant by the U.S. Department of Education to make systematic improvements in Ohio's state’s system for early childhood education. This work will fundamentally change how Ohio prepares its state’s youngest learners, especially those with high needs. Ohio’ schools cannot improve unless more students come to school ready to succeed.  Unlike the larger Race to the Top grant that Ohio received in 2010, the federal government structured this grant very differently. States were explicitly asked not to use funds to expand or create new early learning programs or to make blanket awards school districts. As a limited-time grant, there would be no way to fund new programs after the grant expires. Instead, states were asked to use the funding to build coordinated state level systems and that raise the quality of existing early learning and development programs. To learn more about the Early Learning Challenge Grant by going to: http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=463&Content=120250  where you can view several webinars that explore this initiative in detail.

 

 

 

Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap of Innovative Practice is the theme for the Ohio Innovative Learning Environments conference to be held July 30 to August 3 in Hilliard (Central Ohio).

 

March 1 is the deadline for educators who wish to share innovative practices in the following areas: inquiry-based instruction/assessment; transformative leadership; global education; technology-supported learning; and college, career and community connections. For more information, click  http://www.ileohio.org/Pages/default.aspx  to see the “Call for Breakout Sessions.”

 

 

 

Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening webinar is February 8
The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Health will conduct Part Two of the BMI Screening webinar Wednesday, February 8, from 3-4 p.m. This session will discuss the significance of conducting BMI screenings to schools, families and communities. It also will highlight resources, support services and next steps.

 

This webinar is open to all school nurses, administrators, school board members, school personnel, community members and parents. Registration is available in STARS under the Event Search, keyword BMI. Registration deadline is February 7. Please direct questions to Dawn Ayres at (614) 466-9271 ordawn.ayres@ode.state.oh.us.

 

 

 

NASA offers STEM opportunity for female high school juniors
This summer, the NASA Johnson Space Center is offering high school juniors an opportunity to take part in the Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars program. Collaborate with girls from across the country and female NASA engineers and interns. The application deadline is February 22 for this special program. For more information and application materials, click http://wish.aerospacescholars.org/ .

 

 

 

Mike Hubbell, Operating Standards for Ohio's Schools, ODE, and Judy Maver, Ohio School Counselors Association and Akron City Schools, will provide information to help districts explain, initiate and implement opt-out plans for students who entered high school for the first time on or after July 1, 2010.  The Opt-Out is a path to graduation without completing the Ohio Core curriculum requirements. This provision is temporary and was designed to provide some students with a period of transition to the more rigorous curriculum requirements of the Ohio Core. Registration in STARS is required for the live webinar on February 16, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The presentation will be recorded and posted on the Opt-Out at  http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1702&Content=120171.