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

Legislative issues                                                                                               by Fred Pausch, director of legislative services
New money for school D.A.R.E. Program
Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro just announced that $3.6 million will be available for the upcoming 2006–2007 school year for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in Ohio. Applications for the grants will be sent to lawenforcement agencies in June. Last year, grant money was distributed among 216 law enforcement agencies throughout the state for the current school year. Ohio’s D.A.R.E. program is sponsored by the attorney general, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ohio Department of Education.

Curriculum issues                                                                              by Rob Delane, director of school board development
New guidelines offer flexibility on students with disabilities
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has announced the details of a new No Child Left Behind Act policy designed to help states better assist students with disabilities. The new guidelines reflect the latest scientific research that shows students with disabilities can make progress toward grade-level standards when they receive highquality instruction and are assessed with alternative assessments based on modified achievement standards. Under the new flexibility option, eligible states may implement short-term adjustments to their adequate yearly progress decisions to reflect the need for alternative assessments based on modified achievement standards. For more information: www.ed.gov.