New funding opportunities for teachers and students in grades 5-12 with the Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission The Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission is providing grant opportunities for student field trips to Ohio’s Holocaust and genocide museums. In addition, professional development scholarships are available to educators wanting to elevate their teaching skills around Holocaust and genocide studies and create impactful learning experiences for students.

Nominations open for the TORCH educator recognition Jan. 4 Nominate an educator for Teachers of Ohio Representing Character and Heart (TORCH) recognition Jan. 4 through Jan. 31.

Upcoming office hours for School Quality Improvement Grant, Expanding Opportunities for Each Child grantees The Department is hosting a FY24 School Improvement Grants Monitoring open office hours Jan. 11, 2024, starting at 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.

New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Resource: Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Adolescent and School Health developed the Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools Action Guide for School Administrators, which includes evidence-based strategies to strengthen student resilience and promote school-based mental health and well-being.

Ohio Severe Weather Poster Contest accepting entries through Jan. 19 Ohio students in grades 1-6, including public, private, and home-school students, may submit entries. All poster entries must be postmarked or emailed by Jan. 19, 2024.

Ohio earns coveted “AAA/Aaa/AAA” ratings from all three major credit bureaus Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Office of Budget and Management Director Kimberly Murnieks announced last week Ohio has been rated "AAA/Aaa" by all three rating agencies.

New Rules for Public Comment

The Department regularly posts rules for public comment. However, the Department has not posted any new rules since the last edition of EdConnection.

Find previously announced public comment opportunities for rules and related deadlines on the Department’s website. Check back often as additional rules may be added throughout the week. 

Superintendents, principals, treasurers, other administrators

Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators Virtual Winter Conference Jan. 19

Prepare for School Board Recognition Month with Ohio School Boards Association

Invitation to visit the National Christmas Tree, state and territory trees this holiday season

Teachers, curriculum directors, counselors, other professionals 

Ohio Treasurer’s Office releases winter-themed financial literacy toolkit for teachers

New and revised OLAC videos, learning modules

Battelle Climate Challenge accepting entries from high school students

Deadlines and dates

Approaching deadlines or important dates mentioned in previous editions of EdConnection.

DECEMBER

• 12/22: Confirm value-added roster verification participation

• 12/31: Submit in EMIS for Fiscal Year 2024 Computer Science Eligibility Verification

JANUARY 2024

• 1/8: Career Pathway Development workshop – Southwest Region

• 1/9: Register to attend monthly virtual meetups for new program coordinators 

• 1/10: Register for Principal Chat Series (Professionalism) 

• 1/16: Career Pathway Development workshop - Northwest Region 

• 1/19: Career Pathway Development workshop - Northeast Region 

• 1/22: Registration open for spring resident educator program coordinator regional network meetings

• 1/31: Register for 2024 OLAC and PBIS Showcase 

FEBRUARY 2024

• 2/13: Register to attend monthly virtual meetups for new program coordinators