Happy Holidays From Charter School Specialists!

Ohio Secures $105 Million to Expand High-Performing Community Schools

Ohio’s community schools are set to receive a financial boost after the state was awarded nearly $105 million in federal grants to expand and replicate high-performing charter schools. The funding, announced by the ODEW, comes through two major programs:

• $55.5 million from the Charter Schools Program (CSP) to replicate successful school models and expand existing schools with strong academic outcomes.
• $49.2 million from the State Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) to help schools address facility costs, particularly in underserved areas.

The funding will be distributed over five years, with the first wave expected to support schools that demonstrate measurable success in student achievement and innovative learning models. State officials say the initiative reflects Ohio’s commitment to school choice and educational equity, while critics caution that accountability must remain a top priority.

Legal Considerations for Schools Receiving Funding

Community schools should be aware that accepting federal and state grant funds triggers strict compliance obligations under both ORC Section 3314 and federal regulations. Key requirements include:

• Proper Use of Funds: Schools must use grant dollars exclusively for approved purposes outlined in the grant agreement. Misallocation can lead to repayment obligations or legal penalties.
• Procurement Standards: Federal funds require adherence to Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), including competitive bidding and conflict-of-interest rules.
• Reporting and Audits: Schools must maintain detailed financial records and submit timely reports to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Noncompliance can result in suspension of funds or termination of the grant.
• Governance and Transparency: Boards should review policies on ethics, contracting, and public records to ensure compliance with state law and sponsor requirements.

Failure to meet these obligations can lead to loss of funding, legal liability, and reputational harm, making proactive compliance planning essential for any school receiving these grants.

Reminder: Statutory Requirement for Board Meetings

All governing authorities are required by the charter contract to meet a minimum of six (6) times during the school year (July 2025-June 2026). Failure to meet this requirement will result in the school being placed on a Corrective Action Plan and loss of points during the annual high stakes review.

Action Steps:

• Review the number of meetings your governing authority has held since July.
• If any meetings have been cancelled, ensure the governing authority will meet a total of six (6) times before June 30, 2026.
• Notify governing authority members early and often to ensure quorum and participation.
• If changes are made to the board meeting calendar, please send the updated calendar to cssboardreports@charterschoolspec.com. 

The Final Expenditure Reports for FY25 are beginning to receive Final Approval from ODEW. Once the FER is final approved, schools will have their grants go into "Revision Started" status. Schools will need to complete the revision by budgeting the carryover funds. 

School in ED STEPS Cohort 1 that are designated as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) must complete the Support Schools Tool survey for the current fiscal year (FY26). The Support Schools Tool is located in the Monitoring Application with the OHID platform. Once the school has responded to the questions and completed the Support Schools Tool, please be sure and notify Charter School Specialists. The school’s sponsor must complete a portion of the Support School Tool prior to sending it to ODEW. The Support Schools Tool must be completed by January 30, 2026.

Notices should be going out this month as to the type of monitoring the school will be receiving from ODEW. ODEW is concentrating on reviewing Cohort 2 schools. These schools may receive either a Desk or Onsite Monitoring Review. 

If your school needs any assistance with the monitoring processes, or any other federal programs processes, please feel free to contact Nannette Sherman at: nsherman@charterschoolspec.com.

As the holiday season arrives and a new year approaches, it’s a natural time to reflect on where we’ve been and set goals for the year ahead. In that spirit, this month’s CCR Corner highlights foundational college and career readiness resources that can help schools collect meaningful data, set strong CCR goals, and support students as they plan their own version of a 2026 “good life.”

Below are several free, go-to tools worth revisiting or exploring for the first time.

Ohio Means Jobs

Probably, one of the most widely used and comprehensive resources is the Ohio Means Jobs K-12 (OMJK12). OMJK12 is a valuable tool for job seekers, employers, and students. Under the For Students tab, career exploration, grade band specific, and staff professional training resources are available.

OhioMeansJobs.com is Ohio's no-cost career planning system that offers comprehensive career exploration tools, online training, and resources specifically for students, teachers, and school counselors. OhioMeansJobs.com allows students to learn more about their career interests and in-demand jobs, build résumés, search for college and training programs, create a budget based on future expenses, and develop meaningful academic and career plans for high school and beyond.

O*NET

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) has been developed under the sponsorship of the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration.

The O*NET database is publicly available at no cost and is continuously updated using a wide variety of sources and methodologies. Millions of individuals, businesses, researchers, and developers rely on O*NET each year through platforms such as O*NET OnLine, My Next Move, My Next Move for Veterans, Web Services APIs, and numerous other public and private applications. These resources play a vital role in helping individuals identify training and job opportunities, and enabling employers to connect with the skilled workers needed to remain competitive.

Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center

While specifically developed to offer secondary transition planning resources for students with disabilities, many if not all the transition planning tools found on this site are beneficial to the “all” and not just young adults with unique learning needs. One “must see” resource is the Transition Assessment Matrix.

The Transition Assessment Matrix was developed for secondary education transition teachers by the Indiana Northeast Cadre of Transition Leaders and the Indiana Secondary Transition Resource Center (INSTRC). Assessments included in the Matrix have either been created by INSTRC, are available online, or are those for which INSTRC has received permission from the original publisher. 

Wishing you a season of thoughtful planning, purposeful goal setting, and a bright start to the new year—from the CCR Corner!

As we move into the second half of the school year, it’s important to draw your focus to the state-required Reading Achievement Plan (RAP) for districts and community schools. Below are the most current expectations, resources, and actionable steps for your team.

Why the RAP Matters

Under Ohio law, districts and community schools that meet certain triggers must develop and submit a Reading Achievement Plan to ODEW by December 31 of the current school year.

Specifically, the triggers include:

• Two consecutive years of less than three stars on the Early Literacy measure; or
• 51% or less of students scoring proficient on the Grade 3 ELA State Test.

Note: Schools already identified must have the RAP in place.

Key RAP Resources

• Official RAP Overview & Requirements – Provides statutory basis, who is required to submit, and deadlines. Reading Achievement Plans – ODEW
• RAP Template 2025-2026 – Includes required sections and formatting guidance. Reading Achievement Plan Template 2025-26 (.docx)
• RAP Guidance Document – In-depth guidance for leadership teams, data use, alignment with literacy frameworks, and monitoring. RAP Guidance 2025 (.pdf)