[Ohiogift] Impact of Ohio Education Law Changes on Gifted Students

[Ann Sheldon]

Hi all,

I was asked if I could share my insights about the recent changes to Ohio education laws due to COVID-19 especially regarding how the changes would affect gifted children. To be honest, I’m not sure that any of the changes have any different impact on gifted students as any other student population. I had a conference call with the ODE gifted staff this week, and they are working on an FAQ specifically for gifted issues. Once that is out I will post a link to that. Also, I noticed a good FAQ from the Columbus Dispatch which explains some of the changes. The article should be accessible as the Dispatch has lifted their paywall for COVID-19 coverage. The link is https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200326/what-you-need-to-know-about-many-changes-in-ohio-education-rules?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Columbus%20Dispatch%20breaking-news%202020-03-2623:10:35&utm_content=COLD_CD&utm_term=032720 <https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200326/what-you-need-to-know-about-many-changes-in-ohio-education-rules?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Columbus%20Dispatch%20breaking-news%202020-03-2623:10:35&utm_content=COLD_CD&utm_term=032720>.

With regard to other changes, my comments will be in bold be beneath the changes:

·      Permits school districts, STEM schools, and community schools other than e-schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to use distance learning to make up for any missed days or hours of instruction caused by the ordered closure of Ohio schools. This change was necessary because state law indicates that districts can only use three days of distance learning to make up school work. This change allows districts to replace instruction for the rest of the year if necessary. This policy change is not without issues. Not all districts are able to provide distance learning either due to lack of computers at the district level or internet access in student homes. The lack of technology in poorer and more rural areas is an on-going issue that has become more critical in this time of crisis.

·      Allows licensed special education providers to utilize tele-health and electronic communication methods to serve students who are receiving special education services through their school district or through the Autism Scholarship or Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarships. Again, this is a change that is necessary to attempt to deliver services to some of our most at-risk students. Students with disabilities will suffer greatly without intervention. The same access issues that apply to all students also apply here.

·      Waives state testing and report cards for the 2019-2020 school year & creates a safe harbor from sanctions for schools; permits seniors to graduate if school determines on track to do so prior to the COVID-19 emergency; local school determine promotion for Third-Grade Reading Guarantee; makes evaluations permissive and prohibits the use of value-added data; excludes academic performance data from being used in sponsor ratings this year; allows Chancellor and State Supt to waive College Credit Plus timelines/requirements during the COVID-19 emergency. These changes are more relevant to some of our gifted students, particularly those who are in College Credit Plus or who would like to enroll next year. The Ohio Department of Higher Education is fielding numerous questions from districts and colleges about what to do about entrance testing, grades, enrollment etc. The CCP listserv I’m on has had many, many posts over the past couple of weeks. The DHE is preparing an FAQ which I will share when available. The testing changes also bring up another issue: spring gifted testing. Clearly, if students do not go back to school this year, many of the districts who would have administered spring testing will not be able to do so. I have asked ODE to weigh in on this issue, but very likely each district will need to decide how to handle this problem.

·      Limits the number of Ed Choice designated school buildings for the 2020-21 school year to those buildings previously eligible in the 2019-20 school year; allows siblings of current scholarship recipients, incoming Kindergarten students, and rising high school students to receive a performance-based scholarship for the 2020-21 school year if the building they attend or would attend meets these criteria. Ed Choice expansion has been the burning education issue for several months. The answer, for now, is that nothing will change for the 2020-21 school year though some education policy groups believe there will still be an expansion under the new law change.

 

Someone asked me offline what this would mean for the Cupp-Patterson school funding bill. I suppose it is unprofessional, but my true response would be a shrug emoji. Given the high numbers of unemployment claims and the likelihood of state budget cuts, it seems very unlikely that the General Assembly will address this issue in the near future. I could be wrong. I guess we shall all have to wait and see. In the meantime, I hope everyone stays safe in these unusual and troubling times. 
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