CTC Corner: Ohio Governor Announces Career Technical Construction Grant Recipients and New Equipment Funding Opportunity

CTC Corner: Ohio Governor Announces Career Technical Construction Grant Recipients and New Equipment Funding Opportunity

by | Nov 20, 2023 | General, Legislation, Special Education

On November 3, 2023, the Governor announced 35 recipients of $200 million in grant funds for constructing new space for career technical programming enabling more students to receive vocational education in industries such as Agriculture, Construction, Healthcare, IT, manufacturing and more. Among the recipients were JVSDs, Comprehensive Districts, and Compact Districts.  The 35 recipients were selected from among 59 applicants.

Additionally, a new equipment funding opportunity was announced and the application window for that grant is currently open until December 15. 2023. The purpose of the Ohio Career Technical Education Equipment Grant Program is to award competitive grants to schools to establish or expand Career Technical Education (“CTE”) programs, with priority for programs that support careers on Ohio’s Top Jobs List and establish or expand credentialing programs from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation Innovative Workforce Incentive Program list.  Eligible applicants are defined as city, local and exempted village school districts, community schools, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics schools and joint vocational school districts. Eligible applicants “must plan to offer a qualifying CTE program that supports a career on Ohio’s Top Jobs List or a qualifying credential program from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation Innovative Workforce Incentive Program list,” according to the request for applications published by the Department of Education and Workforce. 

Priority will be given to applicants with less than 10% of the student body reported as “CTE concentrators.” A CTE concentrator is a student who has completed at least two CTE courses in a single approved career pathway or program of study. Priority will also be given to applicants proposing programs in priority industry areas, such as advanced manufacturing and telecommunications. 

The request for Applications and additional instructions can be found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Call: Gender Dysphoria

by | Nov 13, 2023 | Special Education

A special early release! A student’s gender dysphoria diagnosis will have you laying down double letters and triple words on the Scrabble board of special education considerations. Erin and Jeremy delve into the DSM 5 diagnosis and how to decipher the requirements under Section 504, IDEA and Title IX. The discussion includes a case from Pennsylvania highlighting how the diagnosis can be a hot button issue for some involved and how the district stayed in its lane and attempted to balance all the laws involved to meet the student’s needs. Want to continue this conversation? Join Erin at the OSBA Capital Conference on Monday, November 13 in Columbus where she and Giselle Spencer will present Gender Issues: What Every School District Needs to Know or catch their podcast, EB’s Short Series: Transgender K-12, here.

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

On the Call: Placement Conundrums

by | Oct 24, 2023 | Special Education

Jeremey and Erin collect and share the pitfalls and conundrums you may encounter when attempting to change a student’s placement when the placement options are limited or non-existent. The discussion includes a case out of New Jersey which set a high bar for the district and its pursuit of an out-of-district placement. They include pointers related to the provision of temporary home instruction and what should be documented, all which will have you saying “Bada Bing, Bada Boom” when the next placement issue arises! 

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

 

 

 

 

 

On the Call: Transportation

by | Oct 10, 2023 | Special Education

Does it sometimes feel like the wheels on the bus are coming off as you approach the intersection of a student’s IEP, transportation and IDEA? Erin and Jeremy diagnose what is required under IDEA when it comes to transportation, including bus suspensions and extracurricular and non-academic services. The discussion references a case from California that drives home the importance of understanding your obligations under your state’s requirements so you don’t have to hit the brakes when an issue arises. They give you some practical tips to jump start your processes and procedures so it’s green lights all the way.

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

Want to learn more about school transportation? Join EB Consulting Group for their 2023 -2024 Chats from the Bus Stop webinar series. Email them to receive the latest updates and program schedule.

 

 

 

 

On the Call: Informal Removals

by | Sep 26, 2023 | Special Education

Sometimes the guidance concerning informal removals can feel like a game of BINGO at Erin’s in-law’s house! In this episode, Jeremy and Erin help you survey the game board, the OSEP guidelines, and make sure you understand what constitutes an informal removal and its potential repercussions. The discussion includes a case from Michigan where missed opportunities resulted in a FAPE violation. They also cover some practical tips which will have you shouting BINGO! 

You can also listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Look for new episodes on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

 

 

 

 

Special Education Update: HB 33 Impacts Options & Obligations for Special Needs Students

Special Education Update: HB 33 Impacts Options & Obligations for Special Needs Students

by | Sep 14, 2023 | General, Legislation, Special Education

The Ohio Budget Bill was signed by Governor DeWine on July 2, 2023. While the spending provisions were effective immediately, substantive changes to the law become effective October 3, 2023. Within these new and amended laws are several provisions that not only impact students with disabilities but will likely expand school district’s obligations to this student population.

Jon Peterson Scholarship applicants can expect more money in the coming years. Most categories of disabilities will see increases the subsidy provided over the next two years.

The Autism Scholarship saw more significant changes from permissible providers to access to scholarship dollars.

  • In the area of behavioral services, families availing themselves of the Autism Scholarship can now access BCBA and behavioral technician services, even when the providers do not possess permits to provide such services in a facility or a home.
  • Additionally, students accessing the scholarship will no longer need a school identification of autism. Students will be eligible if a medical professional diagnoses the student with autism, or if the student has an IEP that calls for services “related to autism.” In the event the student is medically diagnosed but does not have an IEP, the responsible school district must develop an education plan for that student to address the diagnosis.

“Catastrophic” costs are no longer reflected in the special education budget. Schools can continue to seek additional costs of services that exceed the category’s funding threshold, but they will no longer be identified as “catastrophic” costs. It is anticipated that this change is more in the name than in the actual amount of funding received.

Seizure action plans are another new requirement. Designated school employees must develop a seizure action plan for affected students and provide training on the plan to relevant staff. Likewise, Districts must ensure that at least one staff person in each building is trained in such plans every two years. Additionally, district administrators, school counselors, teachers and bus drivers must complete training in the bill’s new requirements. 

Public schools are now required to provide transportation as a related service to any resident student with a disability attending a nonpublic school. This particular requirement is vaguely drafted and the Ohio Department of Education has not yet issued any clarification, nor are there any applicable regulations. It is best to consult with legal counsel to develop an appropriate response to any new requests for transportation related to this change.

Finally, the Ohio Department of Children and Youth Services will assume most of the oversight of preschool education. A full transfer is duties is expected by January 1, 2025.

 What this means for schools – As with all other education related budget considerations, these changes in laws will require careful oversight and timely consideration. Stay tuned for further updates on the implementation of many of these new and revised requirements.