Community Schools and Sponsors
Considerations for Community Schools and Sponsors During Ohio’s Ordered School-Building Closure
Ohio's ordered school-building closure presents unique challenges for our community schools and sponsors, particularly related to meeting the expectations in law under Ohio Revised Code 3314 (the community school law). The Ohio Department of Education publishes answers to Frequently Asked Questions related to impacts on all schools on its website at
education.ohio.gov/coronavirus.
However, there are some questions that require more explanation, specifically for community schools and their sponsors. This document is designed to provide additional information to assist sponsors, governing authorities, staff and administrators in our community schools during the coronavirus-related ordered school-building closure.
Impact of No Spring Assessments
Funding for Community Schools
Automatic Withdrawal of Students
Expectations for Sponsors During the Ordered School-Building Closure
Additional Questions
Impact of No Spring Assessments
What is the impact of the elimination of state assessments for 2019-2020 on community schools that have met the closure criteria in Ohio Revised Code 3314.35 or 3314.351, particularly those that have met it for two consecutive years?
Based on legislative flexibility, community schools will not be subject to penalties based on the 2019-2020 school year since state assessments were not administered (specifically, Ohio Revised Code sections 3314.35(4)(c) or 3314.351(A), which would require a school to close for meeting criteria for three consecutive years). For the purposes of determinations regarding closure after the 2020-2021 school year pursuant to Ohio Revised Code sections 3314.35 or 3314.351, the Department will review a school’s performance during the 2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2020-2021 school years.
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Will community schools be penalized within the funding formula for not administering assessments during the 2019-2020 school year pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 3314.08(L)(3)?
The Department will not reduce funding to any community school for not administering assessments.
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What is the impact of the elimination of state assessments for 2019-2020 on the withdrawal of computer-based school students not taking tests pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 3314.26?
No student will be placed on the two-year non-tested list prescribed under Ohio Revised Code section 3314.26 for not participating in testing during the 2019-2020 school year. However, students who may not have tested in 2018-2019 still will be considered as having missed one year of testing. Therefore, if the student is not tested in the 2020-2021 school year, the student would be added to the non-tested list.
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What is the impact of the elimination of state assessments on the highperforming community school list created pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 3313.413?
The Department will carry forward the high-performing community school list published on the Department’s website for the 2019-2020 school year into next year and will not publish a new list until the 2021-2022 school year based on the 2020- 2021 school year.
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How will the Department identify community schools eligible to receive the designation as a Community School of Quality and eligible to receive funding from the Quality Community School Support Fund?
The Department will use data from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to identify community schools to receive the designation of a Community School of Quality under Section 265.335(B)(1) of HB 166 of the 133rd General Assembly for funding in the 2020- 2021 school year. Future Community School of Quality determinations and funding will depend on future appropriations.
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What is the impact of the elimination of state assessments for the 2019-2020 school year on the challenged district list that establishes where a new startup community school can open as defined in Ohio Revised Code section 3314.02 and required pursuant to Ohio Revised Code section 3314.353?
The Department will carry forward the challenged district list published on the Department’s website for the 2019-2020 school year into next year and will not publish a new list until the 2021-2022 school year based on the 2020-2021 school year.
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Funding for Community Schools
If a community school wishes to enroll a new student, one of the requirements is to have certain documentation to verify residency. What options are there during the ordered school-building closure?
A school still is required to obtain proof of residency, however, given the current health crisis, flexibility can be exercised. The student should be enrolled and every attempt to verify residency should be made by the school. That could include the submission of a signed statement from either the parent(s) or student if over 18- years of age through submission of a photo or electronic copy. (If the school accepts the signed statement, steps should be taken to obtain a signed affidavit when it is safe to do so.)
If a student or legal guardian does come to a physical location to interact with school staff, appropriate social distancing should be followed.
Updated 5/21/20
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Automatic Withdrawal of Students
Under what circumstances should a community school withdraw a student during the ordered school-building closure?
The 72-hour rule applies when a student is absent “without legitimate excuse” for 72 consecutive hours. The superintendent/administrator of the community school normally has discretion on when a student is marked with an excused or unexcused absence. Community schools should track attendance for students during the ordered school-building closure and use discretion when determining if a student’s absence is excused. The Department encourages this discretion and believes absences related to COVID-19 may be considered excused absences during the period of the order.
For e-schools, attendance should be tracked in the same manner it was prior to the ordered school-building closure. Engagement in learning opportunities, or the reasons impacting a student’s participation in learning opportunities, should be considered when determining if an absence is excused or unexcused as a student progresses toward the 72-hour limit. E-schools and community schools utilizing blended learning will continue to be funded based on documented learning opportunities.
In the event a community school makes the decision to withdraw a student, it is important for the community school to reach out to the resident district and all options to re-enroll the student are explored to continue education during the ordered school-building closure.
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Expectations for Sponsors During the Ordered School-Building Closure
How should sponsors handle measuring progress toward academic indicators required in the contract between schools and sponsors?
Each sponsor should discuss how it will evaluate each school’s performance for the 2019-2020 school year considering the decision to eliminate the administration of state assessments. Other academic data collected by the school may be an appropriate substitute. The determination of progress toward meeting academic indicators within the contract is a responsibility reserved for the sponsor of each community school.
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Will sponsor evaluations be conducted in the same manner at the completion of the 2019-2020 school year as they have previously?
HB 197 eliminated the academic portion of the sponsor evaluation for the 2019-2020 school year. The Office of Accountability will publish an information sheet related to the impact of the ordered school-building closure on sponsor evaluations.
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Additional Questions
The Department recognizes the challenges both educators and their students are facing because of the public health crisis. The Department will provide additional information regarding impacts to community schools and sponsors as it becomes available.
Please contact the Department with questions specific to community schools or sponsors at
Community.Schools@education.ohio.gov.
Last Modified: 5/21/2020 11:46:31 AM