August Newsletter | Community Schools
Welcome from the OCS Administrator
Over the past month there have been quite a few changes in the Educational Options and Improvement section of the Department of Education and Workforce. I am excited to step into my new role as the Administrator over the Office of Community Schools and to take on the duties of the Chief of Education Options and Improvement. I look forward to streamlining many of the processes and procedures in the offices and improving communication and collaboration with all stakeholders.
- Sheila Vitale
Reading & Math Policy Hour Webinar: Senate Bill 19 Updates
On Thursday, August 27th at 1:00 p.m., leadership from the Department of Education and Workforce’s offices of Math & Literacy Achievement will provide updates regarding Senate Bill 19 of the 136th General Assembly which was passed earlier this summer. The following topics will be discussed:
- Academic Intervention Services for K-12 students in reading & math
- K-3 Reading & Math diagnostic changes
- Math Achievement Plans
- Reading Achievement Plans
- High-Quality Instructional Materials in Mathematics
There is no registration required. To attend the webinar, please click this link. You can also access the webinar on this webpage.
Please send questions about the webinar to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov.
Auditor of State Requirements
Sunshine Law
Last year, the Auditor of State provided guidance on acceptable Sunshine Law/Open Meetings training requirements for community school leaders, operators, board members, and treasurers. The auditor is allowing attorneys to provide one-hour in-person or synchronous online training with specific guidelines regarding attendance, required certifications for online training, and requirements for sign-in sheets and taking attendance. In addition, the presentation must include twenty-minute sessions on the following topics:
- Statutory definitions: record, public office, public record;
- Exemptions from definition of “public record,” including laws particularly relevant to community schools, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
- Presumption that exemptions are strictly construed;
- Procedures for responding to requests;
- Denials and redactions; and
- Hypothetical examples of requests and considerations to properly respond
The changes are effective with the current school year, and audit testing will begin with the school’s annual audit for the 2026-2027 school year. Find the AOS Bulletin on the Auditor’s website.
Cyber Security and Multi-Factor Authentication
The Auditor of State issued an Advisory on July 15, 2026, regarding multi-factor authentication. Please take the time to review this opinion with your sponsored schools as schools are expected to follow cyber security requirements.
Changes in Law
Over the summer, several changes in law occurred that will take effect in late September. This includes new math requirements, updates to reading diagnostics, on-line testing, and school closure. Please take time to review HB 19 and SB 455.
Transportation and Non-Licensed Staff Rapback Requirements
If you sponsor schools that provide transportation or employ non-licensed personnel, remember that these individuals must be enrolled in the Rapback system through the State Board of Education. To ensure that only active personnel are enrolled in the system, schools are required to reaffirm their enrollees each school year. All currently enrolled bus and van drivers and non-licensed personnel from last school year who are associated with each school were marked as “Pending” in the system overnight on June 30 into July 1. From July 1 through October 31, the Rapback Authorized Representative for each school will need to reaffirm any “Pending” drivers and non-licensed personnel who will be working during the 2026-2027 school year.
After November 1, any drivers and non-licensed personnel who have not been reaffirmed by the school and are still “Pending” will be unenrolled from the Rapback system.
For more detailed information on the timeline and detail for the re-affirmation process, and Rapback process for drivers and non-licensed personnel, please visit the Rapback webpage.
Changes to Industry Recognized Credentials
The Department has released new guidelines for offering industry recognized credentials beginning with the class of 2030. A town hall meeting is scheduled for August 13, please visit the Industry Recognized Credential web page for further guidance and information.
Reminders:
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Opening Assurances – Reminder that any new schools, those schools changing location, adding an annex, or adding a location must submit opening assurances. The opening assurances can be found on the Department’s website.
August
- 8/7-9 | 2026 Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
- 8/13 | K-12 Industry Recognized Credential Town Hall
- 8/27 | Math Plan discussion
- 8/31 | Submit Financial Forecast
September
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