An OSBA newsletter for school board members on the No Child Left Behind Act — January 2006

Curriculum issues                                                                               by Rob Delane, director of school board development
State academic content standards available online
You can now view the Ohio Content Standards for English language arts, arts, mathematics, foreign language, science, library, social studies and technology in three different layouts. These valuable files are organized by standard and grade level, with the benchmarks and indicators aligned. They also contain introductory sections, instructional commentary, a glossary and a resource list. To take a look at the standards, visit: www.ode.state.oh.us/academic_content_standards.

Legislative issues                                                                                     by Fred Pausch, director of legislative services
New rules for testing students with disabilities proposed
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced new proposed regulations on the testing of students with disabilities. The purpose is to enhance the ability of schools and states to more effectively measure the achievement of America’s children with disabilities. The proposed regulations spell out a process for all states to develop modified academic standards and assessments aligned to those standards. Spellings stated that the public comment period on the proposed rules would be extended for the 2005–06 school year. The proposed rules were published in the Dec. 12, 2005 Federal Register.