LEGISLATIVE
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Advocacy for Students Doesn’t Always Mean Lobbying BY BARBARA SHANER
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he theme for this issue of the Principal Navigator by itself lets the reader know that disparities already present within our state’s education system have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Not only did inequities exist among our schools, other social and economic disadvantages among families also existed and they continue. These factors have a bearing on the success of students and the schools they attend; a reality that has become more apparent to the world outside the schoolhouse as a result of the pandemic. As building principals, we trust that you are doing all within your power to close the gap between those students who have every education tool necessary to succeed and their not-so-fortunate peers. You’ve even helped the outside world understand this gap and you’ve highlighted some of the changes that are needed to help more students engage in learning. For this, Ohio should be thankful; your advocacy is starting to pay off. Now that more light has been shed on the disparate education opportunities that exist among students, what is being done at the state level to solve the problem? RemotEDx The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) introduced RemotEDx to a subcommittee of the State Board of Education during its meeting in September. According to ODE, this newly formed exchange, network and suite of supports is designed to provide more students with high-quality, personalized remote education opportunities and serve more educators with job-embedded professional learning experiences. RemotEDx includes an exchange where high-quality remote education initiatives share information about their models; a Network and Learning Academy enabling members to share best practices and lessons learned; Connectivity and Technology Champions focused on ensuring that schools and students have
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access to the internet and technology; and a Support Squad that is regionally deployed to provide schools with deep technical support and professional learning. Not all components are fully developed. A Coordinating Council made up of a range of stakeholder representatives from across the state have come together to assist with working out the details of what will become part of RemotEDx and how it will operate. The possibilities for what can be done through this effort are open-ended. The following are some components of RemotEDx and related activities that have emerged to date. Connectivity Champions Because of the lack of access to internet connectivity that many students face, the RemotEDx program recognizes that the information parents need to get their students connected may be lacking. Also, there may not be an understanding of where to turn to find that information. A new approach was devised, and new positions created to help schools and parents with connectivity for students. The new positions are called Connectivity Champions. According to a statement released October 17, 2020 a specific new component of the new RemotEDx initiative has been established. “Connectivity Champions provide all Ohio school districts, community schools and nonpublic schools with additional support to get their students connected to the internet from home. They collaborate closely with Information Technology Centers to help support students and their families with household connectivity to enable remote learning. Students or parents who are struggling with their home internet connection can get help from the Connectivity Champions.” Visit ohio-k12.help/remotedx/ for more information. Broadband Connectivity Governor DeWine’s administration requested and received approval from the state Controlling Board for $50 million in BroadbandOhio Connectivity Grants, allocated from the Federally issued Coronavirus
