News and Events for February 23 through March 6, 2026

Nominations for 2025 R.A. Horn Outstanding Student Achievement and

Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Educator Awards

State Support Team Region 8 will continue to facilitate the nomination process for the R. A. Horn Outstanding Student Achievement and Franklin B. Walter Outstanding Special Educator Awards. Within each of the 16 State Support Teams in Ohio, the R. A. Horn award is presented to one exemplary special education student, and the Franklin B. Walter award is given to an educator or team who has made extraordinary contributions to the education of students with disabilities.

One finalist from each region in both of these award categories will be honored. Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) will host an in-person award ceremony to honor all regional finalists in June 2026. SST-8 will announce the regional finalist for both awards on the SST-8 website and share any future updates regarding a ceremony. Nominations are due by March 20, 2026 and are submitted via Google. Click below to learn more and access forms.

Click Here for Guidelines and Nomination Forms

Read Ohio Tier 1

Tier 1 instruction is universal instruction designed to meet the needs of all students. All students receive grade-level instruction with scaffolding and differentiation supports using high-quality instructional materials.

Find out more by accessing this link.

Core-Instruction-Tip-Sheet.pdf

Save the Date: Ohio School Safety Summit 2026

The Ohio School Safety Summit, the premiere annual school safety summit hosted by the Ohio School Safety Center, will take place at an exciting new location: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio. Dive into dynamic sessions led by top voices in school safety and learn about what actually works in Ohio schools. Earn continuing education credits while exploring timely topics. Connect and collaborate with fellow school safety professionals and vendors from Ohio and beyond.

Save the date June 2-3, 2026 in Sandusky, Ohio. Hotel information will be released at a later date.

PBIS Administrative Code (OAC) Update

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) is focusing on helping schools and districts establish an Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports (I-MTSS) framework. This transition aims to create a more cohesive and comprehensive approach to addressing both academic and nonacademic needs.

PBIS work lives inside Ohio’s I-MTSS framework. State law requires schools and districts to implement a PBIS framework, and the Administrative Code that outlines the requirements of the framework (as well as rules on restraint and seclusion) is currently being revised to specifically include an I-MTSS framework. Although the opportunity for public comment on these changes has passed, you can view the proposed language here to see the details.

OCALI will continue to support PBIS professional development through their free online modules. Current modules include Tiers 1 and 2, as well as classroom practices.

New Information about the Department’s

Science of Reading Refresher Course

Under Ohio law, teachers, administrators, school psychologists, and speech language pathologists are required to take the Department’s forthcoming Refresher Course in the Science of Reading. Please see the Department’s Science of Reading Professional Development webpage for completion timelines.

The Department’s Science of Reading Refresher Course will consist of two modules. Module One will provide a grade-band specific review of the major components of the Science of Reading and Simple View of Reading. Module One will also contain options for either grades K-5 or 6-12. Participants must choose one of these Module One options.

For more information about Ohio’s Science of Reading Professional Development requirements, please see the Department’s Science of Reading Professional Development webpage. Please direct questions to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov.

SAVE THE DATE and PLAN AHEAD!!

Join math educators from across Ohio October 8–9, 2026, at the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics (OCTM) 76th Annual Conference held at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, OH! This year’s theme — Revitalized, Relevant, and Reimagined — invites all of us to breathe new life into instructional practice, connect cutting-edge ideas to today’s classrooms, and reimagine what meaningful mathematics looks like for our learners.

We’re especially thrilled to feature Dr. Jo Boaler, Stanford University Professor and globally recognized leader in mathematics education, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Boaler’s work on growth mindset, equitable instruction, and joyful mathematics experiences has influenced educators around the world — and we can’t wait to hear her insights on making math more creative, accessible, and relevant for every student!

Whether you’re looking to revitalize your teaching, explore relevant strategies for today’s learners, or rethink what’s possible in math classrooms, you’ll leave inspired and equipped with new tools and connections.

Learn more and register: https://ohioctm.org/Annual-Conference-Sandusky-2026

What Makes MTSS Effective?

In this article from AIR, Playing the Long Game of Successful MTSS Implementation, Sarah Arden describes her experience working with districts implementing MTSS. She highlights the key practices for successful MTSS implementation. The benefits don't happen overnight, they happen when schools and districts play the "long game".

2026 ReadOhio Literacy Academy

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s 2026 Read Ohio Literacy Academy will take place June 3 and 4 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This year’s theme, Integrating Systems for Student Success, will feature sessions focused on advancing literacy across Ohio and a dedicated track on teacher leadership.

The event offers professional learning to support the use of evidence-based language and literacy practices. It is intended for Ohio districts, schools, and early care and education programs working toward raising literacy achievement.

Registration for this free event will open in the spring. Updates and more information will be posted on the Department’s Literacy Academy webpage in the coming months.

Direct questions to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov.