Licensure

Last month, the State Board of Education considered the first application for a pupil activity permit from a felony ex-offender holding a Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE). Created by Senate Bill 337 in 2012, the CQE process allows persons who have a previous felony or misdemeanor conviction to apply to the court in their county of residence to lift collateral sanctions that prohibit an individual from being considered for employment in certain fields, including education.  As of May 20, 2015, just over 300 CQEs have been issued in Ohio. 

Effective April 26, 2013, any individual applying for a first-time pupil-activity program permit or permit renewal is required to complete certain training programs related to concussions and head injuries in order to coach interscholastic activities.

As of September 10, 2012, applicants for licensure or public employment no longer are required to complete Declaration of Material Assistance/Non-assistance (DMA) forms. These forms were required to be completed by certain applicants to certify that they had not provided "material assistance" to a terrorist organization. HB 487, which became effective on September 10, 2012, repealed statutory provisions requiring the completion of these forms.

On January 1, 2010, changes became effective regarding background check requirements for licensed educators in Ohio. For initial applicants for a license, the requirements are the same: initial applicants for a license must complete both an Ohio criminal background check (BCII) and an FBI criminal background check. These checks need to be less than 365 days old to be considered valid for licensing purposes.

In June 2008, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Board of Directors approved a recommendation that coaches in Ohio be required to take the National Federation of State High School Associations Fundamentals of Coaching course. All interscholastic coaches in grades 7-12, whether certified to teach or not, paid or volunteer, are required to take the course as a one-time fulfillment. All coaches without a current pupil activity permit are required to complete the course by January 1, 2010.

The State Board of Education has filed new draft rehabilitation rules with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR). This act begins the formal rule-making process and triggers a public hearing before the State Board. The hearing on these rules is June 18 at 11:00am.