Recommendations from Community Forum

On February 22, the Northwest/West Central Ohio Public School Advocacy Network which includes nearly 40 school districts hosted a community forum to discuss the impact of the Ohio Department of Education’s plan for complying with the Every Student Succeeds Act.  On March 21, the Bath Local School District Board of Education (Allen County) passed a resolution containing the following recommendations from this community forum:

• Reduce the number of state assessments and only test what is mandated by the federal law.  (This means reducing the number of high stakes tests from 24 to 17.)
• Provide more detailed student data on Ohio’s state assessments and provide that information in a timely manner so data can be used for instructional and curricular purposes.
• Develop an accountability system that is more balanced and does not put an emphasis on standardized test scores.
• Create a more descriptive rating system that appropriately defines the achievement and progress of students.
• Allow school districts to develop local indicators of excellence that reflect the quality of their schools and include as a rating on the report card.
• Revise the current graduation system so it is not based so heavily on standardized test scores.
• Eliminate the retention component of the Third Grade Reading Guarantee.
• Address students with disabilities within the ESSA plan.  Students identified with disabilities who cannot perform at the same level as their peers should not be expected to pass grade level state testing even with accommodations.  Their testing should be aligned to their Individualized Education Plans.