Ohio Department of Education Awards Purple Star Schools for Demonstrating Commitment to Military Families

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria today announced that 37 Ohio schools will receive the Purple Star Award this school year. The award recognizes a school’s demonstrated commitment to serving students and families connected to the United States armed forces and Ohio National Guard.

Sixteen Ohio Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Honors

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has named 16 Ohio schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. Schools in each state are recognized as high performing based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates (if applicable).

Ohio Department of Education Releases Abbreviated 2020 School Report Cards 

The Ohio Department of Education today released the 2020 Ohio School Report Cards. This year’s report cards do not contain overall grades for any district or building, individual grades or ratings for given components or performance measures. The report cards also do not include any information about student performance on state tests, the academic growth of students during the school year and the extent to which achievement gaps are being addressed for students. This is in keeping with legislation passed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that also canceled the administration of most state tests for the last portion of the 2019-2020 school year.  

Teacher at Ohio School for the Deaf Named 2021 Ohio Teacher of the Year

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria today surprised Ohio School for the Deaf teacher Anthony Coy-Gonzalez by naming him the 2021 Ohio Teacher of the Year. Coy-Gonzalez teaches upper elementary students at the school located in Columbus. DeMaria made an unannounced appearance during a video conference staff meeting to share the unexpected news with Coy-Gonzalez and several of his colleagues.
[Updated to include announcement video link.] [Updated 9/22 to include photo]

Ohio to Receive an Additional 9 Million Face Masks from FEMA

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), in cooperation with the Governor’s Office, the Ohio Departments of Education, Health, and Job and Family Services, is receiving shipments of an additional 9 million face masks this week for public distribution.