Federal/State Notices

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Federal/State Notices

Notices for Parents

Bullying Report
House Bill 276 requires that all school districts report incidents of bullying to the superintendent, the Board of Education and the community. The following data is the number of "substantiated" and "unsubstantiated" cases of bullying reported in our district for the 2008-09 school year.

Bullying report

No Child Left Behind Title 1 Notifications
The No Child Left Behind act gives you the opportunity to ask for information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s).

Requests for teacher information should be directed to your school’s principal. You may also contact Akron Public Schools, Department of Human Resources, 70 N. Broadway, Akron, Ohio 44308; or call 330.761.2946.

Students who attended the following elementary schools for the 2008-09 school year are eligible for school choice: Barrett, Bettes, Crouse CLC, Erie Island, Findley, Forest Hill CLC, Lincoln, Robinson CLC, Schumacher, Seiberling and Stewart.

Elementary Public School Choice Letter and NCLB Application

Students who attended the following middle schools for the 2008-09 school year are eligible for school choice: Goodrich, Goodyear, Innes, Jennings CLC, Roswell Kent, Litchfield, Perkins and Riedinger. Bridges and Akron Opportunity Center are also eligible.

Due to No Child Left Behind funding, your student may be eligible to receive extra help in reading and math. You may receive this FREE TUTORING because your student’s school is in its second year or later of School Improvement. Schools included are Barrett, Bridges, Crouse CLC, Schumacher, Seiberling, Stewart, Akron Opportunity Center, Goodyear, Innes, Jennings CLC, Roswell Kent, Litchfield and Perkins.

Supplemental Educational Services Letter

Special education notice of class action lawsuit
On July 2, 2009, the Southern District of Ohio granted the parties' Second Joint Motion for Preliminary Approval of Partial Class Action Settlement in the case of John Doe, et al., v. State of Ohio, et al., Case No. 2:91-cv-464 (Doe v. State of Ohio).

The partial settlement, which is reflected in a Consent Order, concerns certain claims regarding the State of Ohio's procedures for implementing the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Improvement Act of 2004) (IDEA). The Consent Order can be found at the link below, as can be found a link to a notice describing the lawsuit, the proposed settlement and upcoming proceedings on this matter.

Graduation alternative
A change in state law now allows potential graduates who finished high school, having completed all required coursework and passing all but one section of the Ohio Graduation Test, to receive their high school diploma. To qualify, students must have:

passed all required high school curriculum;
passed four sections of the Ohio Graduation Test;
received a score of 390 or higher on the section of the OGT not passed;
a 97% attendance rate, excluding excused absences;
no expulsions;
a 2.5 GPA in the test area not passed;
a 97% attendance rate in intervention programs;
a letter of recommendation for graduation from high school teacher specific to test area not passed;
and a letter recommending graduation from principal.

If you qualify for the graduation alternative, work with your principal to complete the required paperwork; and return it to the Department of Testing, Research and Evaluation at 65 Steiner Ave., Akron, Ohio 44301.

Parents can request teacher qualifications
Akron Public Schools is 100 percent committed to quality education. We hire the most qualified, professional staff to guide your children through the education process.

Curious about these classroom pros? We have the following information available for your convenience and peace of mind:

whether or not the Ohio Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he/she teaches;
whether or not the Ohio Department of Education has licensed the teacher to teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances;
whether or not the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject(s) of the degrees; and/or
whether or not teachers' aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

To request any of this information, contact the Akron Public Schools Department of Human Resources, 70 North Broadway, Akron, OH 44308; or call 330.761.2946.

Gifted and talented options abound in Akron
All parents think their children are gifted and talented in their own special way. Did you know that Akron Public Schools gives semi-annual tests to verify this very fact.

Through special testing, students can be identified as gifted and talented in one or more of the following categories:

superior cognitive;
specific academic (writing, reading, math, science and/or social studies);
creative thinking; and/or
visual and/or performing arts (art, instrumental and vocal music, dance and drama).

Every Akron Public Schools student is screened in grades two and five using standardized tests. In other grades, students are assessed on a referral basis. Students can be referred by a teacher, parent or by self-request. Individual tests are given twice a year on parent-teacher conference days. Visual and performing arts referrals are made by the district’s arts teachers but can be made also by parents or students. Visual and performing arts assessments are given twice a year. To qualify as gifted in visual and performing arts, an audition or display of work is required. Criteria vary by discipline. Additional information, brochures and options are available from Sharon Hall, coordinator for gifted and talented education, by calling 330.761.3069 or e-mailing shall@akron.k12.oh.us.

To view the brochures, download the free Acrobat reader:

District Policy and Plan for the Identification of Children Who are Gifted — Highlights Akron Public Schools policy for gifted and talented education;
Identification of Children Who are Gifted — Provides information about eligibility criteria;
Assessment Instruments Used by the District for Gifted Identification — Lists the assessment tools used with students; or
Frequently Asked Questions about Gifted and Talented Identification — Answers questions about gifted and talented identification and services.