Notices
Federal Grant Program Legal Notices & Related Information
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA)
Public Participation Meeting Notice
Ohio Bridge Connections Academy receives federal funding through the Special Education—IDEA (Part B) grant to assist with the education of handicapped children, ages 3 through 21. Community members who would like to have input into the planning of the use of the federal IDEA funds are welcome to provide comment during our public hearing to be held at the Ohio Bridge Connections Academy office located in Columbus, Ohio at 3650 Olentangy River Rd, Suite 430B. Please contact the school for dial-in information if you are unable to attend in person, but would like to attend via teleconference.
Visit the Ohio Department of Education’s website to view a notice to parents and guardians of Ohio students with disabilities regarding partial settlement of a class action lawsuit.
Teacher Credentials and Performance
Federal guidelines give you the right to know about your child’s teachers’ credentials and school performance. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time, you may ask the following: whether your child’s teacher meets state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he or she is teaching; whether your child’s teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived; and what degrees your child’s teacher holds, including graduate certificates, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.
Assessment and Testing Information for Parents of Ohio Bridge Connections Academy Students
Ohio Bridge Connections Academy chooses a series of consecutive school days to administer state testing to students. These testing dates fall within periods of time designated by the Ohio Department of Education and are updated yearly. Enrolled families may find Ohio Bridge Connections Academy's chosen testing dates in the school handbook and calendar located in Pearson Online Classroom. To learn more about the current Ohio Department of Education testing windows, visit the Ohio Department of Education website.
Child Find Notification
Please contact the school if you, or someone you know, has a concern about the development of a child from the ages of birth through age 21. Ohio Bridge Connections Academy Child Find Policy Procedure is in accordance with federal law, the District assumes responsibility for the location, identification and evaluation of all children birth through 21 who reside within the district and who require special education and related services. This includes students who are: advancing from grade to grade; enrolled by their parents in private elementary or private secondary schools, including religious schools, located in our District (regardless of the severity of their disability); wards of the state and children who are highly mobile, such as migrant and homeless children; and home schooled.
Families enrolled at Ohio Bridge Connections Academy will receive Child Find information. Families can visit the Ohio Department of Education website for contact information specific to their county of residence.
Emergency School Closure Safety Plan
The Ohio Revised Code requires all schools to notify parents that the school has a safety plan in place and how parents will be notified in case of an emergency. The law does not exempt e-schools even though we do not have students in a traditional school environment. Please note that we have a safety plan for our office staff, and in the event that the school has to be closed for an emergency, families will be notified via the Pearson Online Classroom home page banner and WebMail.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Ohio Bridge Connections Academy complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. View our FERPA Notification and Policy to learn more about Connections Academy's commitment to protecting student rights.
Missing Children Program
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) offers a variety of programs and preventative measures that parents can use to help protect their children. Visit the NCMEC website to learn about safety, prevention, and what to do if your child is missing. You can also visit the Ohio AMBER Alert Advisory Committee website to learn about the Amber Alert emergency alert program.