Week in Review > Week in Review – 07/20/2018

Posted by on July 25th, 2018

EDUCATION

Sponsors who are shutting down charter schools have a longer and more detailed set of tasks to perform to assure the state the schools’ affairs are in order, under a new policy from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) taking effect this summer. The new policy comes after the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West earlier this year shut down Ohio’s largest online charter school, Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT). Updates to the policy governing charter closings were already in the works before the January shutdown, according to ODE.

The second round of grants to help schools replace lead plumbing fixtures will conclude at the end of the month, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) notes. The program is offered through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), successor agency to the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) recently posted application materials for organizations interested in becoming sponsors of charter schools. The deadline to apply for the 2018-2019 cycle is Monday, Dec. 31.

Superintendent Paolo DeMaria floated a template Wednesday for a new, customizable graduation pathway that would have high school students pursue an “anchor experience” — internship, research, portfolio, community service project — and then articulate their lessons learned via writing, data analysis, presentations and other means.

FEDERAL

Brown also highlighted his efforts to secure provisions on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would secure defense spending contracts for Ohio businesses and keep government intelligence and defense jobs in Ohio.

GAMING/GAMBLING

As the Legislature begins to look at legalizing sports betting in Ohio, the director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission said that they are still learning about what other states are doing to regulate it and the regulatory structure will ultimately be left up to lawmakers. Rep. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) has introduced HB714 and Sen. John Eklund (R-Chardon), SB316, placeholder bills that will be used to explore sports gambling in Ohio after the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that a federal ban on the practice is unconstitutional. Casino Control Director Matt Schuler told reporters Wednesday that if the General Assembly asks the commission to be the regulatory agency over sports gambling, “we will give it 100 percent, but it is really their call.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is looking to take advantage of a legislative break to get Statehouse construction projects finished before lame duck session, though CSRAB Executive Director Laura Battocletti told the board Thursday that she is unsure if all will get done before lawmakers return later this year.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Shawnee State University recently announced a new 15-credit hour certificate program focused on providing students an introduction to the history, culture and identity of the Appalachian region. The program will focus on the idea and perceptions around Appalachia and how it is regarded in contemporary culture, media, literature and the arts. It will include service- and project-based learning, as well as technological training and collaborative research.

LIBRARIES

At a cost to the state of $7.75 per library per day, all Ohio public library card holders will soon have free, unlimited access to LinkedIn’s library of workforce development resources at Lynda.com. The Ohio Library Council (OLC) formally announced the agreement Tuesday. The partnership between LinkedIn, OLC and the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN) will be the nation’s first such arrangement between LinkedIn and a state library system. The state will pay $710,000 per year as part of the three-year commitment.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Thursday announced a proposal to lower local government rates by 12 percent, with the BWC board of directors set to vote on it on Friday, Aug. 24.

Posted by on July 25th, 2018

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