Ann Brennan
OSPA Executive Director
annmo929@gmail.com
After deep thought and consideration, not without anxiety and emotion, I will be retiring at the end of this calendar year, Dec. 31, 2021. I can be available to continue beyond that date if more time is needed to make the transition to a new Executive Director.
I have developed a draft timetable and task list, based on one the Search Committee developed when Rachel Chilton was hired as Business Manager. Among the tasks are: Revising and updating the job descriptions; appointing a search committee for the Executive Director position; developing rubrics to evaluate resumes and for the interview process; determining the job posting sites, and organizing the interview and selection process.
I am working with the OSPA officers, and members of FAC and the Planning and Development Committee to assist in the logistics.
The Executive Director Search Committee is chaired by board member Rob Kubick and consists of the following board members: Past-President Ashley Lockemer, NASP Liaison Bradley Paramore, President Emma Sacha, outgoing Secretary Kaitlyn Lang and outgoing Legislative Committee chair Chuck Archer.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. It has been a difficult decision as I love working with school psychologists, however, I think it is the right time for me.
Remote Learning
The Ohio legislature provided schools with the necessary flexibility to implement remote instruction and learning through the submission of Remote Learning Plans for the 2020-2021 school year. As schools plan for the 2021-2022 school year, the Ohio Department of Education has not received notice that the legislature will extend these flexibilities or create other legislative authority for remote learning next year. However, current state law includes four options that provide authority for schools and districts interested in providing remote learning approaches for students and families. These can be found on ODE's Reset and Restart page under a link titled "Remote Learning Pathway Considerations 2021-2022."
Behavioral Health Services Survey
The Ohio Council released the 2021 School-Based Behavioral Health Services Summary report and Executive Summary. This year, 76 provider organizations responded to the survey, and the findings show continued growth in school-based behavioral health services. While many school-based programs were interrupted or downsized because of schools being closed over the past year, programs still expanded to an additional 224 buildings, representing a 9% growth from the previous year.
The 76 organizations that participated deliver services in 2,827 school buildings and provide services to about 73% of Ohio schools. Of the community providers, 80% reported being involved in general planning activities with school partners while two-thirds reported being an organizational member of a district's planning team.
"While COVID-19 changed the way education and behavioral health services have been provided over the past year, the report is a reminder that access to mental health services and supports remains essential," according to ODE. "The survey results further demonstrate the continued value and demand for services in the school setting and the important role service providers hold in helping school districts with planning."
The report can be found at https://www.theohiocouncil.org/
Policy Work
In legislative news, OSPA has joined leadership of the Ohio Association of Pupil Services Administrators to seek legislation that would revise the developmental disability age range. Current law sets ages 3 to 6 as the window for identification. The proposal would amend Ohio’s language to reflect the federal law, which is ages 3 to 9.
Ms. Brennan has helped in drafting a letter to legislators on the matter and will participate in future meetings with legislators to garner support.
The state budget process (HB 110) nears its conclusion. Included in the two-year spending measure are changes to the K-12 education foundation funding formula (HB 1), which is expected to see revisions up to the final passage, as the Senate and House versions will need to be reconciled, which must occur by June 30.
The school psychology intern funding appears to be level funded within the Special Education Enhancement line item. OSPA submitted testimony to both the House and Senate Finance Committees and their subcommittees supporting the intern program funding.
Ms. Brennan continues to work with Senate staff to amend a telehealth services bill (HB 122) to add school psychologists to the list of authorized providers under the bill.
“ODE staff have reviewed the OSPA created amendment and support it,” Ms. Brennan said.
ODE-licensed school psychologists are currently authorized to provide telehealth services for the 2020-21 school year under the COVID-19 school provision bill that passed in the last
General Assembly.
OSPA has been working on an update to the Ohio Intern Program Guidance Manual, which is the framework of Ohio’s university school psychology training programs.
The Department of Education’s Office of Exceptional Children and the Inter-University Council of School Psychology Programs met to begin the revisions. Portions of the manual are out-of-date, Ms. Brennan said. A smaller group will meet in an ongoing fashion to identify changes.
The State Board of Education is nearing adoption of Rules for the Education of Students with Disabilities. A subcommittee of the board has reviewed the draft rules between February and April and voted them out of committee in May. The full board is expected to review the proposal at its June meeting and potentially adopt them in July.