BASA Member Update 5.26.17

HOT TOPICS Suspensions and Expulsions over the Summer

House Bill 410, enacted by the 131st General Assembly, made changes to Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.66 so that division (A) now reads in part: If at the time an out-of-school suspension is imposed there are fewer than ten school days remaining in the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the suspension takes place, the superintendent shall not apply any remaining part of the period of the suspension to the following school year. The superintendent may instead require the pupil to participate in a community service program or another alternative consequence for a number of hours equal to the remaining part of the period of the suspension. The pupil shall be required to begin the pupil’s community service or alternative consequence during the first full week day of summer break. Each school district, in its discretion, may develop an appropriate list of alternative consequences. Please note that this prohibition on tolling a punishment over the summer and into the next school year applies to out-of-school suspensions and not to expulsions. Class of 2018 Graduation Requirements Transition At its May meeting, the State Board of Education approved for the Class of 2018 two alternative graduation requirement recommendations, which are available on the BASA home page ( www.basa-ohio.org ) under Hot Topics. However, since graduation requirements are specified in the Ohio Revised Code, legislative action will be required. Obviously, it would be advantageous for all of next year’s senior class to know what these alternatives are prior to the start of the 2017-2018 school year. BASA is aware that some legislators want to insert these recommendations into the current budget bill (Am. Sub. HB 49). If you support these alternatives being adopted, a message to your legislators to communicate your support would be helpful.