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NOTE: This information is designed merely to inform and alert you of recent legal developments. This blog is not a substitute for competent legal counsel and readers should not act upon this information without legal advice. If legal advice is needed with respect to a specific factual situation, readers are encouraged to seek professional assistance.
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College Credit Plus: what you need to know now

A new program for the 2015-16 school year, College Credit Plus (CC+) replaces the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program and most other existing dual enrollment programs.  While the first round of notice and application deadlines have passed for CC+, school responsibilities under the program span the entire school year.  School district administrators should be aware of the following:

Workplace religious accommodations

With less than a month remaining in the current term, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered an opinion on Monday that could have potential employment implications for Ohio school districts.

In EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, a clothing store declined to hire Samantha Elauf, a 17-year-old Muslim, because a religious headscarf that she wore to her interview conflicted with Abercrombie’s employee dress code policy.

Employing students aged sixteen and seventeen during summer vacation

Students aged sixteen and seventeen, who are employed during the summer months after the last day of spring classes and before fall classes begin, are not required to provide their employer with an age and schooling certificate as a condition of employment (RC 4109.02). This exception applies if the student is employed in an area that is nonagricultural and nonhazardous as well as any other area of employment that is not prohibited to persons aged sixteen and seventeen.

State Board considers CQEs

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. 

Teachers volunteering after retirement

Under RC 3307.35(B), a former teacher receiving retirement benefits from the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) may be employed again as a teacher in the public schools. Teachers that choose to work in a public position within the first two months of retirement forfeit their monthly retirement benefits for the months worked. In the past, STRS has held that the amount of compensation paid to the retiree has no impact on whether the teacher loses their retirement benefits.

Who is your Title IX Coordinator?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits gender discrimination in any education program or activity that is supported by federal monies.  On April 24, the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) reminded schools receiving federal dollars that they must designate at least one employee to coordinate Title IX compliance and released a guidance package relating to Title IX compliance.

Question of the Week

Question: What is required in order to opt out of the new career-technical education (CTE) program requirements for 7th & 8th grade students?

Students with diabetes

Ohio Revised Code Section (RC) 3313.7112 outlines the required care for students with diabetes. Each board of education must ensure that each student enrolled in the district who has diabetes receives the appropriate and needed care for his or her diabetes, in accordance with a signed order from the student’s treating physician.

Diabetes care. Diabetes care includes:

Online Sunshine Law Training

All elected officials or their appropriate designees are required to attend public records training approved by the attorney general (RC 149.43(E)).  The training must be for three hours for each term of office for which the elected official was appointed or elected to the public office (RC 109.43(B)).