Academic Distress Commission

Districts are subject to an academic distress commission after receiving an overall grade of F on the Ohio School Report Cards for three consecutive years. Find more information in Ohio Revised Code 3302.10. 

PLEASE NOTE - State law prohibits the superintendent of public instruction from establishing any new academic distress commissions (ADCs) for the 2019-2020 school year.

Per Ohio Revised Code Section 3302.101: Academic Distress Commissions Review and Recommendations of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Updates in state law require districts' academic distress commissions to continue to exist and provide assistance but they will not have any operational or managerial control.

Academic Improvement Plans (Updated Dec. 17, 2021) 

Recent changes in state law require districts currently under the oversight of an academic distress commission to submit an academic improvement plan to the state superintendent of public instruction. The plan will be in place for a period of three school years and will include annual and overall academic improvement benchmarks for the district and strategies for achieving those benchmarks. 

On Dec. 3, 2021, the interim state superintendent approved the revised proposals from all three districts. The approval letters and approved plans are posted below.

 

Approval Letters and Approved Plans

East Cleveland City Schools (ECCS)
ECCS State Superintendent Approval Letter | ECCS Final Approved Plan

Lorain City School District (LCSD)
LCSD State Superintendent Approval Letter | LCSD Final Approved Plan

Youngstown City School (YCS)
YCS State Superintendent Approval Letter | YCS Final Approved Plan

Academic Distress Commission Members

East Cleveland City
School district

Lorain City
School District

Youngstown City
School District
Dr. Tachelle Banks Steve Cawthon Dr. Maria Hoffmaster
Belinda Kyle Cel Rivera Dr. Ben McGee
Karen Winston-Carpenter Patricia O'Brien Dr. John Richard
Dr. Michael Schoop Randall Sampson Selna Cotton
Dr. Marva Kay Jones Dr. Marva Kay Jones Dr. Marva Kay Jones
CEO - Dr. Henry Pettiegrew CEO - Dr. Jeffrey Graham CEO - Justin Jennings
East Cleveland City Schools District Review 2016 Lorain City Schools District Review 2019 Youngstown City Schools District Review 2019

How member appointments are made

  • Appointments made within 30 days after the district is notified of the creation of the Academic Distress Commission.
  • A total of Five members are appointed
    • Three members appointed by State Superintendent (One appointee must be a county resident)
      • State Superintendent designates the Chairperson from one of the three members appointed.
    • One member appointed by the president of the local school board (Teacher employed by the district)
    • One member appointed by the mayor
  • Members of the commission serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority

Last Modified: 12/17/2021 9:04:41 AM