CMSD Charter Office Newsletter

Fall was a busy time for us, and we recently completed all of our fall site visits. As a reminder, these included a special education file audit, a student file review, a compliance and building review, and classroom observations. We appreciate how easy your building leaders made these for us and hope the information we shared after our visits has been valuable.

We discussed the full visit reports at recent board meetings. If you have any clarifying questions or follow up support needs, please let me know.

We recently shared the text version of our annual sponsorship report. Please review the summary of 2024-2025 results below. Congratulations to schools that achieved 3 or more stars overall and/or those that achieved met a majority of academic indicators.

Thank you for choosing CMSD as your sponsor, and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

We hope you all get a chance to relax and enjoy friends and family before we are busy with the rest of the school year.

Ohio law requires sponsors to “Monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal performance and the organization and operation of the community school on at least an annual basis” (ORC 3314.03).

CMSD defines performance expectations for each sponsored school in its charter contract.

All CMSD-sponsored schools adhere to the same academic, financial, and organizational performance expectations.

Academic

A school exceeded overall academic expectations if it achieved 4 or more stars on the overall report card indicator. A school met expectations if it received 3 stars on the overall report card or met four or more academic indicators (a majority of the seven possible indicators). Otherwise, a school did not meet overall academic expectations.

Financial

A school exceeded overall financial expectations if it met all six indicators. A school met expectations if it met four or more indicators (a majority of the six possible indicators). Otherwise, a school did not meet expectations.

Compliance

A school exceeded compliance expectations if it scored 90 percent or more on the organizational framework. It met expectations if it scored 80–89 percent. It did not meet expectations if it scored below 80 percent.

Academic Performance Summary

Based on Report Card Indicators and Peer Comparison

Please review the annual report and/or Attachment 4 of the contract for more information

In the first half of calendar year 2025, members of the Ohio House and Senate were primarily focused on passing a state biennial budget bill. Since returning from summer recess, lawmakers have been busy considering a number of bills introduced in each chamber.

Of particular interest to public school stakeholders – including charters – is introduction of S.B. 93 by Senate Education Committee Chair Andy Brenner (R-Delaware) to provide a new funding method for K-12 schools.

His plan “seeks to reduce the state’s reliance on property taxes as the main source of school funding and shift it to a more balanced approach moving away from property taxes,” he testified to the Senate Finance Committee.

“… every district would receive 20 mils in property tax revenue, the sales tax portion dedicated to schools, and the continued lottery and gaming revenues,” Senator Brenner said. “By standardizing these mechanisms, Ohioans would gain more predictability in their tax bills and avoid the dramatic fluctuations in property taxes that have become common.”

Per-pupil cost would be calculated by establishing a single statewide average and the funds would travel with the student to their choice of public or chartered nonpublic school. The per-pupil funding system would be based on student enrollment and would feature a base formula with adjustment factors.

In an interview with Gongwer News Service, Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said he doesn’t expect for there to be “much action on individual bills right now that are related to school funding or property taxes.”

Here’s a brief summary of other bills moving through the legislative process of interest to K-12 education stakeholders.

H.B. 57 – legislation requiring schools that opt to keep a supply of an overdose reversal drug for emergency situations to adopt and implement a policy regarding supply and use – was amended to include language allowing a school governing board’s released time religious instruction policy to set higher maximum time limits than statutorily required. It was passed by the House and Senate and signed by Governor Mike DeWine. It will go into effect January 19, 2026.

H.B. 114 would require public schools to admit to kindergarten any child who will be five years old or, if the child has not completed first grade, six years old, by the first day of instruction of the school year of admittance.

H.B. 127 would permit schools to withhold student directory information.

H.B. 304 would permit students to use club sports or other athletic activity to fulfill the high school physical education requirement and to require recess time for K-8 students.

H.B. 346 would require mandatory and voluntary reporters of child abuse or neglect to make reports to both the public children services agency (PCSA) and law enforcement.

H.B. 415 would prohibit PK-12 public schools from discriminating against a student with respect to any program or activity because of traits associated with a student’s race, including hair texture and styles, such as braids, locks and twists, and allow a student alleging such discrimination to sue in any court having jurisdiction.

H.B. 431 would require public schools to annually screen each student using the University of Toledo’s FOCUS youth screening tool to identify students who may be at risk of, or involved in, human trafficking and report the results to the University (which would track, compile and publicize results without student names or personally identifiable information).

H.B. 455 was passed by the House as an omnibus bill – covering a range of topics in a single measure – revising or eliminating a series of programs, requirements and provisions related to the Department of Education and Workforce and public and chartered nonpublic schools. It would also revise the performance measures used to calculate performance ratings for the state report card’s College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness, Graduation, and Early Literacy components, and eliminate obsolete provisions regarding the state report card and state assessments. The legislation, which is aimed at easing the regulatory burden on public schools, has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.

H.B. 485 was approved by the House after changes were made by the House Education Committee. The bill would require public schools to provide human growth and development instruction in its curriculum for grades 5-12, which must include a high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” video produced by Live Action, or its successor entity, or a substantially similar video. It has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.

H.B. 486 (entitled as the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act) would declare the General Assembly’s findings that the “teaching of the historical, positive impact of religion on American history is consistent with the First Amendment” and “imperative to reducing ignorance of American history, hate, and violence within our society” and permit teachers in public schools and instructors at state institutions of higher education, when providing instruction on American history, to also provide instruction on the positive impacts of religion on American history.

H.B. 524 would prohibit the development or deployment of any artificial intelligence model or application that encourages any user to engage in self-harm or in harming another person with penalties of up to $50,000 for each violation.

H.B. 597 would generally prohibit knowingly operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over a school.

H.C.R. 22 would encourage students in grades 1-12 to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the classroom during the 2025-2026 school year in celebration of its 250th anniversary.

S.B. 7 would require public schools to annually provide instruction to students in grades K-12 on the harmful effects of short-term and chronic substance use.

S.B. 19 would require schools to provide evidence-based academic intervention services, free of cost, to students who demonstrate a limited level of skill in state assessments in math or English language arts.

S.B. 34 was passed by the Senate to require public schools that receive donations to display at least four from a list of nine founding documents – the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Northwest Ordinance, mottoes of the U.S. and Ohio, Ten Commandments, Magna Carta, Bill of Rights, U.S. Constitution and Articles of Confederation – in each classroom in which students in any of grades 4-12 are provided instruction in history or social studies. The legislation has been sent to the House for its consideration.

S.B. 144 includes language returning to narrower grade bans for teachers, aimed at rolling back changes made through the state biennial budget bill (H.B. 96) passed by the General Assembly late June.

S.B. 156 would require schools to provide instruction on the success sequence — a three-pronged framework for youth and young adults that is based on evidence that individuals who complete at least a high school education, obtain full-time work and marry before having children are overwhelmingly less likely to live in poverty in adulthood.

S.B. 274 would prohibit children from receiving mental health services without guardian consent. A companion bill (H.B. 172) mirrors the language of S.B. 274.

Crisis Prevention (CPI) Full Day Initial Training

January 6, 2026

Trained by CPI Certified instructors, you will equip your staff with problem-solving and decision-making skills to recognize the level of risk and apply the most appropriate verbal and/or physical interventions.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 8:00 AM and ending at 3:30 PM

Program Cost: $150.00 (Lunch included)

Make Check or PO Payable to: ESC-NEO

Registration Deadline: 1/5/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Title IX Training - Morning Session

January 8, 2026

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 11:00 AM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 1/7/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Title IX Training - Afternoon Session

January 8, 2026

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 1:00 PM and ending at 3:00 PM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 1/7/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Social Emotional Learning Network

January 15, 2026

This network is for leaders of systematic social emotional learning and/or student wellness. This network will provide a space for those tasked with the implementation of social emotional learning within their districts.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 11:30 AM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 1/14/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Northeast Ohio Mathematics Specialists (NEOMS) Network

January 16, 2026

This network is for passionate math specialists, coaches and teachers who are interested in learning together for the sole purpose of advancing mathematics instruction.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 11:30 AM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 1/7/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Instructional Coaching Network

January 29, March 5, and May 7, 2026

The Instructional Coaching Network is an ongoing collaborative learning opportunity for instructional coaches, leaders of coaches and anyone invested in coaching teaching within Northeast Ohio.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 8:30 AM and ending at 11:30 AM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 1/26/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Successful Scaffolding

February 4, 2026

Teachers- Do you support a range of students’ needs and want to thoughtfully scaffold for success?

Administrators- Do you want to know what scaffolding looks like in classrooms and how to support scaffolding in your school?

Plan- Each session will include learning & implementation planning for educators and administrators to confidently support scaffolded instruction for all students.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 3:30 PM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 2/4/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

PBIS Tier 2 Interventions

February 25, 2026

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 3:30 PM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 2/24/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Crisis Prevention (CPI) Full Day Initial Training

March 24, 2026

Trained by CPI Certified instructors, you will equip your staff with problem-solving and decision-making skills to recognize the level of risk and apply the most appropriate verbal and/or physical interventions.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 8:00 AM and ending at 3:30 PM

Program Cost: $150 (Lunch included)

Registration Deadline: 3/23/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

Attendance Leaders PLC 25-26

April 14, 2026

In this Professional Learning Community (PLC), participants will focus on reducing chronic absenteeism through positive and preventive approaches. The sessions are strategically scheduled to inform and guide actions throughout the school year.

Location: ESCNEO [6393 Oak Tree Blvd, Independence OH 44131]

Program Time: 9:00 AM and ending at 11:30 AM

Program Cost: Free

Registration Deadline: 4/12/2026

To Register: Click here to register online.

“Sobering” national testing data — Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show low achievement among students in the U.S. in multiple subjects. Only 35 percent of seniors achieve the “NAEP Proficient” benchmark in reading in 2024 and only 22 percent in math. National Center for Education Statistics Acting Commissioner Matthew Soldner said the results are “sobering,” noting that the “drop in overall scores coincides with significant declines in achievement among our lowest-performing students, continuing a downward trend that began even before the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Ohio awarded $100-plus million for high-performing charters – The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has been awarded nearly $105 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education. About half of the funds are dedicated to supporting the growth of high-performing charter schools across the state over the next five years, with the remaining funds dedicated to helping high-performing charters address facilities’ needs. Emphasis will be placed on supporting schools in communities with limited access to quality school options, including those with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Lowering chronic absentee rates remains a top priority as schools continue to address COVID-19 pandemic learning losses that continue to exist. Chronic absenteeism is defined as 10 percent of school days, or about two days each month, and includes both excused and unexcused absences. Ohio is one of 16 states participating in the “50% Challenge” pledging to cut chronic absenteeism rates by half over five years. Access a variety of resources online at:

https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Supporting-Family-Engagement-and-Attendance

The Ohio Network of Partnership Schools, hosted by the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center at The Ohio State University, offers a free, research-based framework grounded in the work of Dr. Joyce Epstein at Johns Hopkins University to help schools effectively engage families and communities. A partnership school moves beyond traditional events to implement focused, coordinated strategy for family engagement, including action teams, action plans and assessment for continuous improvement. Learn more online at: https://ohiofamiliesengage.osu.edu/ohio-nnps-network/

Increased Summer Food Service Program funding has been requested by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce — $4 million to cover costs incurred by schools, districts and child nutrition providers. DEW “has seen an increase in program participation, with additional sites and meals served compared to the prior year,” the request stated. The department anticipates additional disbursements at fiscal year-end. The request is made against the backdrop of federal and state funding cuts for various food programs including food banks.

Education Week: Most federal K-12 programs will leave USDOE

Education Week recently reported that various departments – including Interior, Health and Human Services, Labor, and State – will be assigned new functions as the Trump Administration continues efforts to shutter the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). Responsibility for the administration of more than $20 billion annually will be reassigned to the U.S. Department of Labor (rather than USDOE) under an interagency agreement the two agencies have signed. Five other interagency agreements will move USDOE programs to other federal agencies. In March, the Trump Administration issued an executive order aligned with the conservative policy document Project 2025 to “facilitate” the closure of the USDOE without congressional approval.