Lt. Governor Jon Husted announced that 150 Ohio companies have been approved for TechCred funding, which will help them upskill their current and incoming workforce to meet the needs of the increasingly tech-focused economy, particularly amid the COVID-19 health crisis. The next application period of the TechCred program will open June 1st and run through June 30th, allowing for another opportunity for companies to train current and/or incoming employees. In order to support the changing needs of Ohio businesses and workers during the economic recovery, following the COVID-19 crisis, the following changes have been made to the TechCred program: To make TechCred more flexible for upskilling new hires, employers are no longer required to list employee names when applying for TechCred. Instead, they will identify the number of current or prospective employees they will upskill. To account for possible staffing changes, employers who were awarded in the October 2019, January 2020, and March 2020 rounds of TechCred may now substitute employees listed in their original application. Employers awarded in October 2019 and January 2020, who had credential programs interrupted by the crisis, may request to extend their 18-month award eligibility timeline. Employees can now earn multiple credentials during each application period. The last round of TechCred applications closed at the end of March 2020. Today, 150 Ohio employers were approved, which will result in up to 1,045 credentials to upskill Ohio workers. With the approvals announced today, a total of 500 Ohio employers have been approved for reimbursement, which will result in the earning of up to 4,232 technology-focused credentials by Ohio employees. Virtual Credentials: Many of the TechCred pre-approved credentials can be completed 100 percent virtually! Examples of these credentials and training providers can be found at TechCred.Ohio.gov. Visit TechCred.Ohio.Gov for more information.

Ohio school leaders know the 2020-2021 school year will be unlike any previous years. Guidance about when and how to reopen school buildings will evolve over the summer months, but there is no time to waste for leaders planning significant changes to the logistics of school — how schools use time, facilities and technology to maximize the positive impact educators have on students and their families while keeping everyone safe. EnvisionEdPlus and the Ohio STEM Learning Network are partnering to bring you Re-Start Re-Design Labs this June.  
 
Re-Start Re-Design Labs are free thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Ohio STEM Learning Network.  
 
Re-Start Re-Design Labs are virtual sessions scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 11, June 16 and June 26. Choose a date that works for your school or district team (three to five participants) and register here. Registration is free but limited to 50 participants per session (approximately 10 teams per event).  
 
For more information or questions, visit the Re-Start Re-Design Labs website or contact Craig Lautenschleger at (614) 348-8628. 

Ohio ACTE and the Ohio Ophthalmological Society are partnering once again to offer FREE safety eyewear for students in programs requiring the use of eye protection.  This program is possible as part of a grant from the Ohio Department of Health to  promote eye safety and to encourage students to use protective eyewear in activities outside of the classroom as well.  The program is called Superspecs (previously Play Hard Don't Blink).

Click on this link to be taken to the online order form and note that there is a link in the order form to view eyewear choices:

https://superspecs.org/applications/acte-oos-vocational-safety-glasses

Online applications must be completed by May 31.  Letters will be sent in early June to each applicant to let them know how many pieces of equipment to expect.  Equipment will ship in August to the address provided. 

In order to participate, schools must agree to provide safety information to students and participate in a survey.  It is open to all schools and is not needs-based.

Since the inception of the program in 2009, more than 200,000 protective eyewear pieces have been distributed.  Programs benefiting from this partnership include: Automotive, BioMedical Science, Arts, Building and Grounds, HVAC, Dental Assisting, and more.

Mike Rowe, an advocate for career-tech education and getting America to work through his foundation, shares his congratulations to students who attend America's career-tech and vocational schools. 

The Ohio Department of Education, along with other state agencies, has made difficult decisions about its budget to reduce expenditures through the remaining two months of the fiscal year. The General Revenue Fund spending authority for the Department of Education has been reduced by $355.5 million, which reflects approximately 20 percent of the remaining appropriation as of March 24, 2020.

Although budget reductions will eliminate the IWIP payments and start-up grants, the state has maintained $4 million to reimburse schools for the cost of industry-recognized credentials for all students.

We know these reductions will present challenges for schools, and we appreciate your understanding as we work through these difficult times together. The State of Ohio and the education community will continue to give our all in the interest of meeting the needs and supporting the education of Ohio’s children.

Congratulations Ohio ACTE Career-Tech 2020 Award Winners!

Watch Ohio ACTE's video tribute, and click here to read more about this year's winners!

And an extra special thank you to Derek Fitzer,  Career-Tech Teacher of the Year (who just happens to be an interactive media instructor)  for helping put together this video!

Ohio ACTE would like to honor this year's award winners!  While we may not be able to recognize them in person, that does not mean we do not want to highlight and thank them for all they do for their students, staff an the career-tech education community!  Here is Ohio ACTE's video tribute, along with winner's advice for other career-tech educators, to celebrate the many accomplishments of our award winners.

Ohio ACTE cannot thank you enough for all that you do!

Visit the Office of Learning and Instructional Strategies Resources page to find the schedule and links for upcoming Virtual Meetups co-hosted by the Ohio Department of Education and one of our partner professional organizations.

Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is sharing two studies about skilled trades education in American public high schools. Some key findings: At least 1 million students study skilled trades in high school 8 in 10 voters favor increased public funding for skilled trades education and think it should be a priority in high school. 8 in 10 parents say their children would be better prepared for a career if they had a chance to study a trade in high school. Click here to read more, access the report.

 

READ THERead RESEARCH

The Ohio Department of Education released the following information on May 12. Ohio ACTE, OACTS and CCS - the organizations representing career-technical education - are providing input.

Message from ODE:

Thank you! Since the ordered school-building closure began on March 12, you have stepped up to ensure a student-centered approach to caring, teaching and learning. We applaud your efforts to challenge, prepare and empower your students for future success—especially given the unparalleled challenges that accompany a pandemic.

The purpose of this letter is to share a coordinated and collaborative process currently underway for co-designing and framing the various considerations for a successful start to the 2020-2021 school year. The process will result in the launch of an Education Reset and Restart Planning Guide. This tool is intended to spur local-level, partnership-based discussions and decision-making in areas critical to the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Please click this link to read the full letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria about this process and plans for moving forward together to envision how to proceed.

SUMMARY:

• For the latest information from ODE, visit http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus
• The ODE Office of Career-Tech has posted guidance specifically for career-tech education. Click here for updates and page links.
• Education budget reductions impact all schools.  Click here for information on the impact to career-technical education.  
• The 2020 Ohio ACTE Annual Connections to Education Conference has been cancelled.  Click here for the announcement and details.  Ohio ACTE plans to offer career-field specific virtual meeting opportunities.
• Ohio ACTE News page is kept up to date with information career-tech educators need to know. Click here for updates.
• Career-tech association leaders continue to work for educators and students, including emphasizing the importance of credentials and focusing on solutions for students, and are working with the Governor’s administration, ODE and Office of CTE.

The 2019-2020 school year is drawing to a close, and not in the way anyone anticipated. With no notice, all educators were asked to deliver education and engage students in new and different ways for the safety of all Ohio citizens.    Career-technical educators stepped up to the challenge and there are many ways schools have adapted, click here for a few examples.

Many members have been asking about the Ohio ACTE Annual Connections to Education Conference, and after much thought and deliberation, the Ohio ACTE Executive Board made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s conference.  It’s a disappointment to all, as the conference is a time to get up to date on career-tech programs, hear ODE updates, and most popular of all, connect with colleagues and share solutions.  For details, click here.

While you continue to focus on your students, the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education leadership, in conjunction with our partners, Ohio Association for Career-Technical Superintendents (OACTS) and Ohio Association of Comprehensive and Compact Career-Technical Schools (CCS), continues to work on behalf of the career-technical and adult education community. 

We remain in contact with the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the DeWine-Husted administration to make sure career-technical and adult education concerns are addressed as plans move forward regarding the reopening of school and the 2020-2021 school year.  

Here are the latest updates:

Ohio ACTE Actions

• Update the Ohio ACTE website and continually post news items on the news blog and use social media to share information and updates from ODE.
• Provide feedback and work with our colleagues in the ODE, Office of CTE, on issues and concerns specific to career-technical education.  Association leaders have weekly calls with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria and ODE staff.  Calls have also included members of the Governor’s staff.

State Actions

• The Ohio Department of Education is working on guidance for the upcoming school year and how schools will be affected.
• The ODE Office of CTE has issued guidance and answered questions specific to CTE, click here.  http://ohioacte.org/news/8947837
• ODE has issued general and specific guidance for schools and teachers and provides updates as available.  ODE created a special webpage for disseminating important information, including video messages from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria.   http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus

National Action

• The United Sates Department of Education has issued guidance, resources and provided flexibility on Perkins deadlines and other requirements. Click here.  
• The Ohio Department of Education continues to provide updates on its COVID-19 webpage… http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus

For health-related questions regarding COVID-19, contact the Ohio Department of Health’s call center at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).

Ohio ACTE encourages members to check for updates from the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health. 

Let me know if there is anything that Ohio ACTE can do for you and please share your ideas, examples and innovative education delivery you have developed.  Email me at Christine@OhioACTE.org with your ideas, questions and thoughts.

Christine Gardner, Ohio ACTE Executive Director