Professional development available for sign language interpreter May 7

The Ohio Center for Deafblind Education and the Helen Keller National Center are offering professional development for educational sign language interpreters in Ohio on May 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program will be held on the Dublin campus of the University of Dayton's School of Education and Health Sciences Grant Center. The training will focus on strategies that can be used in the classroom when working with a student who has combined vision and hearing loss, as well as information on identifying students and resources available. Time will be given during the training for participants to practice the techniques discussed during the training. Lunch will be provided for all registered participants. Heather Endres, BSW, NIC Advanced, will facilitate the training.

Background check updates required for educators who have permanent and non-tax certificates

Educators who hold permanent certificates and permanent non-tax certificates are required by state law to update their FBI criminal background checks every five years through the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). In addition, an updated BCI background check is required if the certificate holder has lived outside Ohio within the past five years. Permanent certificate holders whose background checks will expire by June 30 will need to update these if they have not already done so. Educators may view the dates of their previous background checks through the Educator Profile on the department’s website. 

Value-added roster verification 2016 begins April 11

If your district is participating in value-added roster verification, note that the principal or school set-up period runs April 11-26 and the teacher roster verification period is April 27 to May 17. Participating in this annual process is the best way for districts to ensure that when teachers with value-added data receive their reports next fall, the reports will accurately reflect teachers’ instructional influence on student progress. When teachers have the opportunity to verify their rosters, the reports’ student performance information is more helpful to them as they consider the results of their teaching strategies.

Third-grade teachers may receive seed packets for Earth Day

The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association is offering a limited number of third-grade classrooms free Sweet Basil seed packets in conjunction with the Plant Something campaign’s observance of Earth Day on Friday, April 22. Information about planting the seeds is available here. To receive free seed packets ... 

Applications for free financial literacy training conference due May 15

Educators who teach dedicated, stand-alone courses in financial literacy (personal finance) will want to apply to attend the free Ohio Jump$tart conference to be held Aug. 3-5 in Columbus. Because conference partners are fully sponsoring the event, attendees will receive free breakfast, lunch, snacks, lodging (if required) and conference materials.

Jump$tart National developed the con