OAPCS is still accepting your feedback in our membership survey. If you have not already, please take a few moments to complete the charter school member or associate member survey by Friday, Jan. 30, 2009.
Contact Us
Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools
33 N. Third Street,
Suite 600
Office: (614) 744-2266
Fax: (614) 744-2255 www.oapcs.org
U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for the 2009-2010 Teaching Ambassador Fellowship (TAF) program at the U.S. Department of Education. The TAF program was launched earlier this year to offer highly motivated, innovative public school teachers, including public charter school teachers, the opportunity to contribute their knowledge and experience to the national dialogue on public education. Applications for 2009-2010 will be accepted through March 16, 2009.
The program includes two kinds of opportunities for teachers across the U.S. - Washington Fellowships and Classroom Fellowships. Washington Fellows become full-time federal employees at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., participating in policy discussions and working alongside staff on education programs and strategies aimed at educational improvement. Classroom Fellows remain in their local schools under their regular teaching contracts, and provide their experience and perspectives to the Department through various assignments and part-time projects. Up to 20 Classroom Fellows and five Washington Fellows will be chosen.
Teaching Ambassador Fellows will be selected based upon their record of leadership, impact on student achievement and potential for contribution to the field. State certified Pre-K-12 public school teachers of all subjects who have spent at least three years in the classroom are eligible to apply. To ensure collaboration at the school and district levels, teacher applicants must have the full support of their school administration.
The current Fellows will serve through June 30, 2009. They represent 22 states and a wide-range of subject, grade level and demographic areas. All Fellows have collaborated on projects and activities to leave a lasting impact on the Department of Education. In particular, Washington Fellows have participated in conferences, presentations, briefings, projects and discussions with senior Department officials, as well as other education groups and leaders. Classroom Fellows have assisted the Department with outreach to teachers nationwide and with collecting teacher feedback on federal projects, for example.
The Department received over 1,100 applications for the 25 Fellowship positions for the 2008-2009 pilot year. The 2009-2010 Teaching Ambassador Fellows will be named by June 2009.
Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools Responds to State of the State Address
William J. Sims, president and CEO of the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools, released the following statement in connection with Governor Strickland’s State of the State speech:
We commend the Governor for his announced goal of going beyond tinkering to make Ohio’s educational system the best in the world with curriculum geared to helping students achieve in the 21st century economy.
We also are grateful for Governor Strickland’s support for charter schools and the role they can play in reaching his goals. We look forward to working with him in the weeks and months ahead during legislative debate on his budget proposal.
In otherwise stimulating and thoughtful comments on education, we saw as a non-sequitor the Governor’s negative comments about for-profit charter school management companies. We believe the educational policy focus should be on the real goals of excellence and accountability. If we want Ohio students to be prepared for the 21st century, excluding partnerships with for-profit companies doesn’t make a great deal of sense.
We are waiting to review the details of the Governor’s budget.
The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) is committed to ensuring that legislators hear from charter school constituents throughout the state biennial budget process … and your help is needed!
A compelling way to present our case to policy-makers is by sharing charter school students’ unique needs and experiences. We are currently soliciting student stories to share with legislators and ask for your help.
Submissions should include the following information (ideally formatted as a one-page Word document) and be sent via email to cwest@oapcs.org:
Student photo
250-500 words focused on:
Why they chose their charter school
Their social/academic experience in their charter school
Their unique circumstances/needs
Their future plans
Early grassroots efforts have included lobbyists representing various charter school stakeholders and have focused on identifying key legislators for outreach, including members of the House majority and minority leadership teams. As committee assignments are announced, our outreach list will expand.
Communications tools – a general overview brochure, as well as basic messaging on e-schools, for-profit management companies, dropout recovery and other special purpose schools – have been developed for use by the charter school lobbyist team and will be sent to school leaders. Additional materials will be developed for parents and other grassroots advocates.
It’s not too late!
If your school hasn’t already submitted a completed grassroots survey, please do so! It’s a quick and easy process. Take this first step toward participating in the efforts of OAPCS to ensure that charter school stakeholders’ perspectives help shape the outcome of the state’s biennial budget bill.
EdConnection newsletter provides weekly updates from ODE
The EdConnection newsletter from Superintendent of Public Instruction Deborah Delisle is available on the ODE Web site by searching keywords: Current e-mails. This weekly newsletter contains articles about ODE policies, budget information, program updates and deadlines, as well as resources for school leaders to help support student achievement.
Beginning in April, the primary and secondary contact persons for community schools will begin receiving the EdConnection newsletter directly based on the information OCS receives through the Annual Sponsor Information Form. Ultimately the names of the Primary and Secondary Contact persons will be listed in OEDS and will automatically receive these weekly updates.
If you do not receive the EdConnection newsletter, please verify that your name and e-mail address are correct on the Annual Sponsor Information Form by contacting LeeAuna Taylor in the Office of Community Schools at leeauna.taylor@ode.state.oh.us or (614) 466-7058. Also, you may need to check with your IT experts to make sure that your computer is enabled to allow e-mails from Communicate@ode.state.oh.us to pass through your spam filters.
If you or others in your organization are interested in receiving an electronic version of this newsletter prior to April, please e-mail Donna Kagy at donna.kagy@ode.state.oh.us.
Second annual state economic-education summit set for Feb. 23-25
Community school principals and directors are invited to register for the Ohio Economic-Education Leadership Summit II, which will be Feb. 23-25, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. Under the theme of “Engaging Partners, Changing Futures,” confirmed keynotes are Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Deb Delisle, Columbus Council on World Affairs CEO Patrick Terrien and Bob Evans Restaurants CEO Roger Williams. Presenters in the more than two dozen breakout sessions will share replicable education and business/industry successes as well as ideas for transforming Ohio’s economy.
The summit is sponsored by ODE’s Office of Career-Technical Education in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Board of Regents, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education, KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Battelle. Registration closes on Feb. 13, 2009, or when a cap of participants is reached. The cost is $125. For more information, click here or go to www.education.ohio.gov and keyword search: Ohio Economic Education Summit II. To register, go to www.ohioacte.org.
Announcement of Public Charter Schools Program FY10 Guidance and Applications
Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) guidance and sample applications for the PCSP and dissemination competitive grants have been posted in the Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) Doc Library and on the Office of Community Schools (OCS) Web site. Applications are available from Feb. 2, 2009 through April 24, 2009 in the CCIP; however, many activities must be completed prior to February in order to use the CCIP.
Training and Guidance
In addition to the posted written guidance and sample applications, in early February Elluminate sessions will review guidance and provide an opportunity for questions. There will also be a basic training in using the CCIP, the electronic grant application. Please contact Susan Moss at 614-644-3573 or susan.moss@ode.state.oh.us if there are additional questions.
Four Elluminate training sessions for the PCSP Grants recipients will be provided during February 2009 on the following dates:
• February 3: How to Use the CCIP to Apply for Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) Funding.
• February 10: An Overview of the Public Charter Schools Program (PCSP) Planning and Implementation Grants: Important Points for Applicants
• February 17: Dissemination Grants for the Public Charter School Program (PCSP): Eligibility and Purpose
• February 24: Community School Sponsor Training - Timeline and Guidance for Grant Applicants
Important FY 2009 Dates
The Community School Operations FY 2009 Annual Timeline is now available by searching for Community School Timeline on the ODE Web site. The following dates and events are a sample of the type of timeline date reminders available:
January 2009:
• Bi-Monthly Finance Meetings: Sponsor meets with each school bi-monthly for budget planning and review.
February 2009
• Grade K-2, Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition (OTELA): Feb. 2-April 3, LEP students. Contact Information Office of Assessment (614) 466-0223.
• Grade 3-12: Ohio Test of English Language Acquisition (OTELA): Feb. 23-April 3, LEP students. Contact Information Office of Assessment (614) 466-0223.
If you have questions regarding the timeline, please contact LeeAuna Taylor in the Office of Community Schools at leeauna.taylor@ode.state.oh.us or (614) 466-7058.
The Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities (GCPD) is proud to announce that the 11th Annual Ohio Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) will be held in Columbus, Ohio from July 20-23, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Dublin, Ohio. At this time we are extending an invitation to all interested high school juniors and seniors that have a disability to apply to attend this exciting, interesting and empowering forum.
We solicit all persons in the education community and every organization that shares in working with/serving people with disabilities to encourage their students/patrons to apply to be a part of YLF 2009. I am enclosing additional information about YLF and the student application that needs to be completed and returned by January 31, 2009. In addition, please visit our website; www.gcpd.ohio.gov for more information about the GCPD and YLF. From the website you can read more detailed information about YLF and you can download the application and instructions by following the link for "Youth Leadership Forum.”
If you have any questions whatsoever or need additional assistance then please do not hesitate to contact me utilizing the information listed below. Thank you for your support in helping us impact tomorrow's leaders today!
The National Resource Center (NRC) would like to call attention to two new funding opportunities for charter schools:
Funding Source: Credit Enhancement for Charter School Facilities Program
Purpose: This program provides grants to enhance the credit of charter schools so that they can access private-sector and other non-federal capital in order to acquire, construct, and renovate facilities at a reasonable cost. Grant projects awarded under this program will be of sufficient size, scope, and quality to enable the grantees to implement effective strategies to reach that objective.
Eligibility: A public entity, such as a State or local governmental entity; a private, nonprofit entity; or a consortium of entities
Funding Source: Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program
Purpose: Funds can be used for integrated, comprehensive community-wide plans to implement varied activities that will create safe and drug-free schools and promote healthy childhood development.
Eligibility: LEAs, charter schools that are considered LEAs under state law, and IHEs
