DEW_20260016_South_Region_SDsigned.pdf

Contract Number: DEW20260016

Agreement for Services – Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center (effective until June 30, 2027)

AGREEMENT FOR SERVICES

This Agreement for Services (hereinafter “Agreement”) is made and entered by and between the State of Ohio, Department of Education and Workforce (hereinafter "DEW"), located at 25 S. Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and Gallia-Vinton Educational Service Center (hereinafter “Contractor”), located at 218 N College Ave, Rio Grande, Ohio 45674, an educational service center organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio. In consideration of the mutual promises and obligations contained herein, the parties agree by and between themselves as follows:

I. NATURE OF AGREEMENT

A. Contractor shall be engaged as an independent contractor to fulfill the terms of this Agreement and to act as a contractor to DEW. It is specifically understood that the nature of the services to be rendered under this Agreement are of such a personal nature that DEW is the sole judge of the adequacy of such services.

B. DEW enters into this Agreement in reliance upon Contractor’s representations that it has the necessary expertise and experience to perform its obligations hereunder, and Contractor warrants that it does possess the necessary expertise and experience.

C. Contractor shall perform the services to be rendered under this Agreement and DEW shall not hire, supervise, or pay any assistants to Contractor in its performance of services under this Agreement.

DEW shall not be required to provide any training to Contractor to enable it to perform services required hereunder.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

A. Contractor shall perform the services (the “Work”) set forth in the attached Appendix A, Scope of Work, which is incorporated as part of this Agreement.

B. In order to facilitate the Work, if specified, DEW shall provide the resources set forth in Appendix A, Scope of Work.

III. TIME OF PERFORMANCE

A. The Work shall be commenced on or after the date of an approved purchase order.

B. This Agreement shall be binding upon both parties until June 30, 2027, unless this Agreement is terminated earlier as provided in Article VI, Termination of Contractor’s Services.

C. It is expressly agreed by the parties that none of the rights, duties, and obligations herein shall be binding on either party if award of this Agreement would be contrary to the terms of Ohio Revised Code (“R.C.”) §§ 3517.13, 127.16, or R.C. Chapter 102.

IV. COMPENSATION

A. The total compensation paid to Contractor for FY26 shall not exceed four million, four hundred twelve thousand, three hundred twenty-five and 08/100 dollars ($4,412,325.08). The total

Contract Number: DEW20260016«CONTRACT_NUMBER» compensation paid to Contractor in FY27 shall not exceed four million, six hundred thousand, two hundred fifteen, and 60/100 dollars ($4,658,215.60). The total compensation to be paid to the Contractor under this Agreement shall not exceed nine million, seventy thousand, five hundred forty-three, and 68/100 dollars ($9,070,543.68).

B. The total amount due and its manner and schedule of payment shall be computed according to the cost schedule established in Appendix A, Scope of Work.

C. Contractor shall not be reimbursed for travel, lodging, or any other expenses incurred in the performance of the Work.

D. Contractor must receive a purchase order from DEW prior to filling an order or performing any of the Work.

E. Payment shall be made upon the submission of an invoice approved by DEW. Invoices shall include the following: a unique invoice number, invoice date, purchase order number, contract number, dates goods and/or services were provided, description of goods/services provided (per PO and contract descriptions), Supplier remit to information which must match what is on file, and amount due. Contractor is expected to complete any deliverable within the requested fiscal year as stated in Appendix A. The final invoice under this Agreement will be submitted by the Contractor to DEW no later than forty-five (45) days after the Agreement’s expiration date. Contractor shall submit all invoices via email to the following email address:

Fiscal.management@education.ohio.gov.

F. Contractor is required to provide electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment information and maintain such an account for all associated payments. Contractor may sign up at http://www.supplier.obm.ohio.gov/.

G. DEW may use the Ohio Payment Card to pay for services that do not exceed Five Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($5,000.00) per invoice, unless the Office of Budget and Management approves a higher limit. Contractor may process a payment in the payment card network only upon delivery and acceptance of the supplies or services ordered. For partial deliveries or performance, Contractor may only process a payment for the amount delivered or completed. Upon completion of the delivery of remaining supplies or services, Contractor may process a payment request in the payment card network for the remainder of the order. Contractor will receive payment through its merchant bank within the time frame agreed upon between Contractor and its merchant bank.

Contractor should expect normal processing fees from its merchant bank for payment card transactions which may not be passed on to DEW.

H. OhioBuys. This Agreement will become part of OhioBuys (per State of Ohio Procurement Policy), an electronic procurement system which provides contract and catalog hosting and management services. Ordering Agencies utilize this system to track and monitor the procurement, solicitation, and contracting of goods and services. When this Contract becomes part of OhioBuys, the Contractor agrees to establish, maintain, and support its Supplier account and notify DEW when such updates have been made.

https://ohiopays.ohio.gov/ mailto:Fiscal.management@education.ohio.gov http://www.supplier.obm.ohio.gov/

V. APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS

A. It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties that none of the rights, duties, and obligations described in this Agreement shall be binding on either party until all relevant statutory provisions of the Ohio Revised Code, including, but not limited to, R.C. § 126.07, have been met, and until such time as all necessary funds are available or encumbered and, when required, such expenditure of funds is approved by the Controlling Board of the State of Ohio, or in the event that grant funds are used, until such time that DEW gives Contractor written notice that such funds have been made available to DEW by DEW’s funding source.

VI. SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION OF CONTRACTOR’S SERVICES

A. DEW may, at any time prior to completion of the Work, suspend or terminate this Agreement with or without cause by giving written notice to Contractor.

B. In the event that the Work includes divisible services, DEW may, at any time prior to completion of the Work, by giving written notice to Contractor, suspend or terminate any one or more such portions of the Work.

C. Contractor, upon receipt of notice of suspension or termination, shall cease work on the suspended or terminated activities under this Agreement, suspend or terminate all subcontracts relating to the suspended or terminated activities, take all necessary or appropriate steps to limit disbursements and minimize costs, and, if requested by DEW, furnish a report, as of the date Contractor receives notice of suspension or termination, describing the status of all Work, including, without limitation, results, conclusions resulting therefrom, and any other matters DEW requires.

D. Contractor shall be paid for services rendered up to the date Contractor receives notice of suspension or termination, less any payments previously made, provided Contractor has supported such payments with detailed factual data containing Work performed and hours worked. In the event of suspension or termination, any payments made by DEW for which Contractor has not rendered services shall be refunded.

E. In the event this Agreement is terminated prior to completion of the Work, Contractor shall deliver to DEW all work products and documents which have been prepared by Contractor in the course of performing the Work. All such materials shall become and remain the property of DEW, to be used in such manner and for such purpose as DEW may choose.

F. Contractor agrees to waive any right to, and shall make no claim for, additional compensation against DEW by reason of any suspension or termination.

VII. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES

A. It is expressly understood that Contractor and DEW are contractors independent of one another, and that neither has the authority to bind the other to any third person or otherwise to act in any way as the representative of the other.

B. It is further understood that neither Contractor nor its employees or agents are “employees” of DEW as the term is used in division (F) of section 124.01 of the Ohio Revised Code and, therefore, are not eligible for vacation, medical insurance, sick leave, parental leave, leave of absence, tenure, bumping rights, retirement, or any other benefits or rights, which are incidents of public employment subject to the civil service laws of Ohio. Moreover, Contractor is responsible for compliance with any labor laws and contracts as it pertains to any union employees under its employment.

C. Contractor shall be responsible for all of its own business expenses, including, but not limited to, computers, email and internet access, software, phone service, and office space. Contractor will also be responsible for all licenses, permits, employees’ wages and salaries, insurance of every type and description, and all business and personal taxes, including income and Social Security taxes and contributions for Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Compensation coverage, if any.

VIII. RECORD MAINTENANCE AND ACCESS

A. During performance of this Agreement and for a period of three (3) years after its completion, Contractor shall maintain auditable records of all charges pertaining to this Agreement and shall make such records available to DEW as DEW may reasonably require.

B. Contractor shall, for the purpose of compliance with R.C. § 145.036, provide DEW with a list of all individuals who will provide personal services under this Agreement, but only if Contractor has no more than four employees.

C. Inspection and Copying. At any time during normal business hours and upon not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior written notice, Contractor shall make available to DEW, its agents or other appropriate State agencies or officials all books and records regarding this Agreement which are in the possession or control of Contractor, including, but not limited to, financial reports, and all other information pertaining to Contractor’s performance of its obligations under this Agreement. DEW, its agents and other appropriate State agencies and officials may review, audit, and make copies of such books and records. Any such inspection of books and records will be undertaken in such a manner as not to interfere unreasonably with Contractor’s normal business operations.

D. Document Accessibility. If contractor creates documents that will be posted to external or internet websites, Contractor must comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. § 794(d) (http://criterion508.com/WebAccessibility), which gives disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to access available to others.

IX. RELATED AGREEMENTS

A. All Work is to be performed by Contractor, who may subcontract without DEW’s written approval for the purchase of articles, supplies, components, or special mechanical services that do not involve the type of work or services described in Appendix A, Scope of Work, but which are required for satisfactory completion of the Work.

1. Contractor shall not enter into subcontracts related to the Work without prior written approval by DEW. All subcontracted work shall be at Contractor’s expense.

2. Contractor shall furnish to DEW a list of all subcontractors, their addresses, tax identification numbers, and the dollar amount of each subcontract.

http://criterion508.com/WebAccessibility

B. Contractor shall bind its subcontractors to the terms of this Agreement, so far as applicable to the work of the subcontractor and shall not agree to any provision which seeks to bind DEW to terms inconsistent with, or at variance from, this Agreement.

X. RIGHTS IN DATA AND COPYRIGHTS/PUBLIC USE

A. DEW shall have unrestricted authority to reproduce, distribute, and use (in whole or in part) any reports, data, or materials prepared by Contractor pursuant to this Agreement. No such documents or other materials produced (in whole or in part) with funds provided to Contractor by DEW shall be subject to copyright by Contractor in the United States or any other country. If Contractor has reason to believe that use of a specified item is subject to patent or copyright protection, Contractor shall immediately notify DEW.

B. Contractor agrees that all original works created under this Agreement shall be made freely available to the general public to the extent permitted or required by law until and unless specified otherwise by DEW. Any requests for distribution received by Contractor shall be promptly referred to DEW.

XI. CONFIDENTIALITY AND FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT

(FERPA)

A. Contractor shall comply with all applicable provisions of Ohio and federal laws including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (hereinafter “FERPA”) or its state equivalent. FERPA includes any amendments or other relevant provisions of federal law, as well as all requirements of Chapter 99 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to allow either party to maintain, use, disclose, or share student information in a manner not allowed by either state or federal laws or regulations.

B. As used herein, “confidential information” means any and all information provided in any form from one party to the other which is, by its nature, information that a prudent businessperson would maintain as confidential. “Personal information,” as described in R.C. § 1347.01(E), includes personally identifiable student information or educational records defined by FERPA.

C. Each party shall use confidential information only in connection with completing the terms of this Agreement as set forth herein. Each party agrees to use reasonable efforts to safeguard confidential information. “Reasonable efforts” means efforts not less than those a party employs to protect its own confidential information and, in any event, efforts not less than those a prudent businessperson would take to protect his or her own confidential and proprietary information. No party shall, without the prior written approval of the other party, directly or indirectly, disclose confidential information to any person or business entity except its own employees and representatives, including attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors, on a need-to-know basis.

D. If Contractor experiences any breach of data security that exposes confidential information, that party shall bear all costs to notify every individual whose confidential information may have been compromised.

E. The Contractor agrees not to use advertising, news releases, sales promotions, or other publicity matters relating to any product or service furnished by the Contractor wherein DEW’s name is https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1347.01 mentioned, or language used from which a connection with DEW may be reasonably inferred, without the prior written consent of DEW.

F. Any obligations under this Agreement regarding confidentiality are subject to applicable law, including the Ohio Public Records Act set forth in R.C. Chapter 149. The disclosure of records by DEW pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act shall not be a breach of this Agreement and shall not constitute a waiver of Contractor’s obligations under this Article XI as to any records disclosed pursuant to a request for public records.

XII. LIABILITY

A. Each party to this Agreement agrees that it will be responsible for its own acts and omissions and the results thereof; and shall not be responsible for the acts and omissions of the other party and the results thereof. Each party agrees that it will assume all risk and liability to itself, its agents, subcontractors, or its employees for any injury to persons or property resulting in any manner from conduct of its own operations and the operations of its agents or employees under this Agreement.

B. Contractor shall notify DEW immediately upon commencement of any actions brought against Contractor whose outcome may affect the rights of DEW granted under this Agreement. DEW shall have the right at its own expense to appear in and defend such actions.

XIII. ANTITRUST ASSIGNMENT

A. Contractor assigns to DEW all state and federal antitrust claims and causes of action that relate to all goods and services provided for in this Agreement.

XIV. CONTRACTOR’S STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS

A. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Contractor, in the execution of its duties and obligations under this Agreement, agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.

B. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE. Contractor agrees to comply with all applicable state and federal laws regarding drug-free workplace and shall make a good faith effort to ensure that all Contractor employees, while working on State property, will not purchase, transfer, use or possess illegal drugs or alcohol or abuse prescription drugs in any way.

C. NONDISCRIMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Pursuant to R.C. § 125.111, Contractor agrees that Contractor, any subcontractor, and any person acting on behalf of Contractor or a subcontractor, shall not discriminate, by reason of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status as defined in R.C. § 4112.01, national origin, or ancestry against any citizen of this state in the employment of any person qualified and available to perform the Work.

Contractor further agrees that Contractor, any subcontractor, and any person acting on behalf of Contractor or a subcontractor shall not, in any manner, discriminate against, intimidate, or retaliate against any employee hired for the performance of the Work on account of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, national origin, or ancestry.

D. USE OF MBE AND EDGE VENDORS. R.C. § 125.081 requires state agencies to set aside purchases for Minority Business Enterprises (“MBE”) and Executive Order 2008-13S encourages https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-125.081 use of Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (“EDGE”) businesses. DEW encourages Contractor to purchase goods and services from Ohio-certified MBE and EDGE vendors.

E. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Contractor acknowledges and agrees neither Contractor nor any of its individual employees providing personal services under this Agreement are public employees for the purposes of R.C. Chapter 145. DEW will not make contributions to the public employees’ retirement system on behalf of any individuals employed by Contractor, or its subcontractors or other agents. Contractor certifies that it is an employer with five or more employees as defined as a “business entity” in R.C. § 145.037(A) for the purposes of the application of R.C. Chapter 145, or that it has completed the necessary forms through OhioBuys if Contractor is an employer with no more than four (4) employees.

XV. CONTRACTOR’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

A. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY. The Contractor will comply with all state and federal laws regarding equal employment opportunity and fair labor and employment practices, including Section 125.111 of the Ohio Revised Code and all related Executive Orders. Before a contract can be awarded or renewed, an Affirmative Action Plan must be submitted to and approved by the State of Ohio.

B. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST/ETHICS. Contractor represents, warrants and certifies that it and its employees engaged in the administration or performance of this Contract are knowledgeable of and understand the Ohio Ethics and Conflict of Interest laws including but not limited to Chapter 102 and Sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Ohio Revised Code. Contractor further represents, warrants, and certifies that neither Contractor nor any of its employees will do any act that is inconsistent with such laws or otherwise presents a conflict of interest.

C. QUALIFICATIONS TO DO BUSINESS. Contractor affirms that it has all of the approvals, licenses, or other qualifications needed to conduct business in Ohio and that all are current. If Contractor becomes disqualified from conducting business in the state of Ohio for any reason at any time during the term of this Agreement, Contractor will immediately notify DEW in writing and will immediately cease performance of the Work.

D. CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. Contractor hereby certifies that neither it, nor any person described in R.C. § 3517.13 (I) or (J), nor the spouse of any such person, has made, as an individual, within the two previous calendar years, one or more contributions to the governor or the governor’s campaign committees totaling in excess of the limitations specified in R.C. § 3517.13.

E. FINDINGS FOR RECOVERY. Contractor warrants that it is not subject to an “unresolved” finding for recovery under R.C. § 9.24. If the warranty is false on the date the parties signed this Agreement, the Agreement is void ab initio, and the Contractor shall immediately repay any funds paid under this Agreement.

F. DEBARMENT. Contractor represents and warrants that neither it, nor any of its subcontractors, are debarred from consideration for contract awards by any governmental agency. If this representation and warranty is found to be false, this Contract is void ab initio, and the Contractor shall immediately repay any funds paid under this Contract.

G. EXPENDITURES OF PUBLIC FUNDS ON OFFSHORE SERVICES. Contractor affirms to have read and understands Executive Order 2019-12D issued by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

Contractor shall perform no services required under this Agreement or locate State data in any way outside of the United States.

Contractor also affirms to have read and understands Executive Order 2022-02D issued by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Contractor has signed and completed the Standard Affirmation and Disclosure Form and shall perform no services in Russia, locate State data in Russia in any way, or purchase from or invest in Russian institutions or companies.

H. BOYCOTTING. Pursuant to R.C. § 9.76, Contractor hereby declares that it is not boycotting any jurisdiction with whom the State of Ohio can participate in open trade, including the nation of Israel, and will not do so during the term of this Agreement.

I. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT. Contractor warrants to DEW that all materials and equipment furnished under this Agreement shall be new and of good quality unless otherwise required or permitted by the Agreement, that the Work shall be free from defects not inherent in the quality required or permitted, and that the Work shall conform to the requirements of the Agreement.

XVI. MISCELLANEOUS

A. CONTROLLING LAW. This Agreement and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed, construed, and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Ohio. Contractor consents to jurisdiction in a court of proper jurisdiction in Franklin County, Ohio.

B. WAIVER. The failure of either party at any time to demand strict performance by the other party of any of the terms of this Agreement will not be a waiver of those terms or to any other terms of this Contract. Waivers must be in writing to be effective, and either party may at any later time demand strict performance.

C. SURVIVAL. All sections herein relating to payment, confidentiality, license and ownership, indemnification, maintenance, publicity, warranties and limitations on damages shall survive the termination of this Agreement. In addition, to the extent necessary to carry out the purpose of this Agreement, all other terms, conditions, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement will survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.

D. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Neither this Agreement nor any rights, duties, or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred in whole or in part by Contractor, without the prior written consent of DEW.

E. NOTICES. For any notice under this Agreement to be effective, the notice must be in writing and:

1) hand delivered with delivery acknowledged in writing; 2) sent by U.S. Certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; 3) sent by overnight delivery service (Fed Ex, UPS, etc.) with receipt; or 4) sent by email.

F. CONFLICT. In the event of any conflict between the terms and provisions of the body of this

Agreement and any exhibit hereto, the terms and provisions of the body of this Agreement shall control.

https://governor.ohio.gov/media/executive-orders/2019-12d https://governor.ohio.gov/media/executive-orders/Executive-Order-2022-02D

G. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement have been inserted for convenient reference only and shall not be considered in any questions of interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

H. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of the Contract or the application of any provision is held by a court to be contrary to law, the remaining provisions of the Contract will remain in full force and effect.

I. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto and shall not be modified, amended, or supplemented, or any rights herein waived, unless specifically agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto. This Agreement supersedes any and all previous agreements, whether written or oral, between the parties.

J. AMENDMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS.

1. DEW reserves the right to right to reduce the Scope of Work set forth in Appendix A by providing written notice to the Contractor.

2. DEW may document non-material changes in writing and provide notice to the Contractor.

3. Any other change to this Agreement will not be effective unless it is in writing and signed by both parties to the Agreement.

K. EXECUTION. This Agreement is not binding upon DEW unless executed in full and is effective as of the last date of signature by DEW.

L. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

M. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. Any party hereto may deliver a copy of its counterpart signature page to this Agreement electronically pursuant to R.C. Chapter 1306. Each party hereto shall be entitled to rely upon an electronic signature of any other party delivered in such a manner as if such signature were an original.

N. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any rights, duties, or obligations described herein shall be assigned or subcontracted by Contractor without the prior express written consent of DEW.

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Each party is signing this Agreement on the date stated below that party’s signature.

Appendix A: Scope of Work

Overview The ReadOhio Coaching initiative began in 2023 in support of one of the DEW agency goals to increase student achievement through improved language and literacy outcomes for students.

Through this statewide program, coaches, employed by Educational Service Centers (ESCs) and directed by the DEW, were deployed to high-need schools statewide to implement Ohio’s Literacy Coaching Model (Ohio’s Model for Instructional Coaching for Literacy and Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement) and supported the use of high-quality instructional materials. The purpose of this initiative is to ensure that all schools receive the necessary literacy support to raise student outcomes.

To support the implementation of Ohio’s Literacy Coaching Model (Ohio’s Model for Instructional Coaching for Literacy and Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement) by Ohio school districts and schools at the regional and local level, Contractor shall hire a Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinator (RLCC) and Literacy Coaches to provide direct literacy support to Ohio school districts, STEM schools, and community schools in the South Region, as defined in Region-South Section of this Appendix A, with the lowest rates of literacy proficiency in the state to improve literacy outcomes at the direction of DEW.

The coordinator and coaches will help build the capacity of Ohio school districts and schools to effectively support sustainable literacy practices and implementation of high-quality literacy instruction to increase literacy achievement of students in Ohio's southern region. DEW will determine which districts and schools within the South Region that Contractor will serve.

Work Plan

1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

I. Staff Requirements and Qualifications

Contractor shall hire a Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinator and 15 Literacy Coaches to provide direct literacy support to Ohio school districts and schools implementing Ohio’s Coaching Model at the direction of DEW.

In order to have a broad reach to recruit Literacy Coaches with the appropriate qualifications, Contractor will collaborate with the Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinator (RLCC) to create a robust set of selection criteria that aligns with the ReadOhio Literacy Coach job description to secure qualified candidates. Contractor has voluntarily committed itself to prioritizing recruitment of and offering coaching positions to all existing ReadOhio Literacy Coaches serving the Southern geographic region, provided they meet the minimum qualifications, before leveraging online job boards, professional organizations, educational institutions, and social media to reach qualified candidates.

• Background Checks: Contractor will ensure that all personnel have successfully passed all required background checks in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and other standards, including the mandatory criminal record checks from both the BCI and FBI prior to commencing any onsite work, as required by R.C. §§ 3319.391 and 3319.392.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3319.391 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3319.392

Contractor will also adhere to any additional background check requirements mandated by individual districts under R.C. § 3319.393.

• Conflicts of Interest: As Article XIV, Paragraph A of this Agreement provides, Contractor shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances in the execution of its duties and obligations under this Agreement. Further, as Article XV, Paragraph B of this Agreement provides, Contractor represents, warrants, and certifies that it and its employees engaged in the administration or performance of this Contract are knowledgeable of and understand the Ohio Ethics and Conflict of Interest laws including but not limited to Chapter 102 and Sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Ohio Revised Code, and Contractor represents, warrants, and certifies that neither Contractor nor any of its employees will do any act that is inconsistent with such laws or otherwise presents a conflict of interest. Without limiting the foregoing provisions or any other provision of this Agreement, Contractor represents that it is committed to developing and implementing practices, policies, and taking any other actions as may be required to comply with applicable law and this Agreement with respect to conflicts of interest and ethical conduct. As an example of Contractor’s commitment to compliance and fulfilling its obligations, Contractor will implement a clear conflict of interest policy and will ensure that all personnel funded by this Agreement complete conflict of interest statements prior to engagement. Contractor will proactively identify any potential conflicts of interest between personnel and participating schools and implement appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure impartiality and ethical conduct.

Contractor will submit a list and profiles of the top candidates to DEW for review and approval before offers of employment are made. As provided in Article VII of this Agreement, all terms of employment are the responsibility of Contractor. However, hiring decisions with respect to positions funded by this Agreement are subject to review and approval by DEW for purposes of ensuring quality ReadOhio coaching administration in accordance with the Agreement. It is understood and agreed by the Parties that, should any staffing changes occur after the date of execution of this Agreement, all RLCCs and Literacy Coaches employed by Contractor whose positions are funded by this Agreement will meet the level of qualifications held by the staffer who fulfilled that responsibility at the time the contract was awarded. DEW reserves the right to deny the filling of a position funded by this Agreement with any individual who does not meet the minimum qualifications prescribed in this Agreement.

II. Onboarding and Training

Contractor is committed to providing onboarding and training to the RLCC and Literacy Coaches to enable them to be successful at their roles. Upon DEW's approval, Contractor will extend formal job offers to Literacy Coaches and initiate a comprehensive onboarding and training program for all hired Literacy Coaches to equip Literacy Coaches with the knowledge and resources necessary to succeed, including training on Ohio's literacy initiatives, the Coaching Implementation Playbook, and the use of data-driven decision.

Upon hiring, each Literacy Coach will receive comprehensive onboarding that outlines the job responsibilities, expectations of their role, the desired coaching practices aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction, the goals of the regional literacy initiative, and training on how to use any project-related tools or platforms and data reporting. This will include a detailed review of the coaching model, implementation plans, data collection protocols, and performance indicators.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3319.393

Each Literacy Coach shall have training in the science of reading, as that term is defined under section 3313.6028 of the Ohio Revised Code, and evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction and intervention. To ensure each coach has the requisite training, each Literacy Coach shall participate in onboarding, professional development courses, and training on the science of reading and evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction and intervention provided by DEW, as directed by DEW. DEW will develop and provide guidance to Contractor regarding the planning for and implementation of professional development plans and onboarding of ReadOhio coaches provided by DEW; however, a sample professional development and onboarding plan is attached hereto as Exhibit C.

Contractor will organize and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for the Literacy Coaches to enhance their skills and knowledge, including workshops on structured literacy practices, the science of reading (as defined in section 3313.6028 of the Ohio Revised Code) research, data-driven decision-making, and student focused coaching. DEW may, from time to time, offer and provide professional training, professional development, or professional learning opportunities for the RLCCs and Literacy Coaches during the contract term. In such cases, Contractor will require the RLCC and Literacy Coaches, as applicable, to participate in the professional training, professional development, or professional learning provided by DEW.

Contractor will provide the Literacy Coaches with the necessary technology and training to perform the work, including but not limited to: how to conduct needs assessments and/or a systems implementation tool to audit current levels of literacy implementation; facilitating the Reading-Tiered Fidelity Inventory (R-TFI) for Tier 1 and the Advanced Tiers; completing Multi- Tiered System of Support (MTSS) checklists; conducting explicit instruction learning walks to assess and refine implementation; and on a wide variety of tools for documentation, data tracking, virtual settings, and personnel management, as needed and appropriate to the project. Contractor will ensure that Literacy Coaches have access to reliable software and platforms for tasks such as data reporting, communication, and professional development. Contractor will provide technical assistance to the RLCC and Literacy Coaches for any required software installations, usage of existing programs, and professional learning opportunities. Contractor will provide support and technical assistance to the Literacy Coaches related to technology required for the effective execution of literacy coaching tasks, including data tracking, remote support for coaching at school sites in counties across the assigned region, and communication, including providing training on how to use any project-related tools or platforms.

III. Transition Plan

Contractor will develop and implement a comprehensive transition plan to ensure seamless continuity of coaching services for the ReadOhio initiative from the current contractor for the South Region to Contractor. This plan will be activated following the award of the contract by DEW and subsequent approval by the Contractor governing board. Immediately following the necessary approvals, Contractor will commence collaboration and communication with the existing contractor will commence and will focus on the transfer of critical program and personnel information. This includes but is not limited to providing a comprehensive list of the districts currently being served and detailed, non-confidential information about the ReadOhio coaches currently employed within the region.

IV. Service Delivery Agreements with Districts and Schools

DEW will provide Contractor a list of the eligible districts and schools in its region to receive ReadOhio coaching services. Participating districts and schools shall be determined by DEW and will be identified based on the school districts, community schools, and STEM schools with the lowest rates of proficiency in literacy based on their performance on the English language arts assessments prescribed under section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code. Contractor represents that it will enter into service delivery agreements with participating districts and schools for the provision of literacy coaching services. Contractor shall be responsible for the individual service agreements with participating districts and schools.

Engagement with Non-Partner Schools: Contractor, through its RLCC, will provide support and technical assistance to non-participating districts and schools in the South Region (those that do not have service delivery agreements with Contractor) to further build capacity and reinforce effective sustainable literacy practices and strengthen overall regional literacy efforts. This additional support shall be at the request, direction, and approval of DEW.

V. Data Reporting

Contractor will assist with local, regional, and state-level data analysis and the development, implementation, and support for Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement, as requested by DEW. Unless otherwise requested by DEW, Contractor will collect, prepare, and submit or report to DEW, in the manner, format, and timeframes required by DEW, the following information and data on the ReadOhio coaching initiative in the South Region:

• Coaching logs detailing the time, topic, educators involved in coaching, and any other information as specified by DEW;

• Reading-Tiered Fidelity Inventory (R-TFI) data for participating districts and schools;

• Student curriculum-based measure data for selected grade levels (based on school-identified need); and o This data will be submitted three times per school year (July 1-June 30) for students in grades kindergarten through three, and for other grade levels, the reporting frequency and timeframes will be determined based on school timelines.

• Learning Walk data for selected grade levels (based on school-identified need).

Without limiting the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, DEW may request that the information or data be submitted or reported directly by the Literacy Coaches instead of by Contractor. In that case, Contractor shall ensure that the Literacy Coaches comply with DEW’s requirements regarding the manner, format, and timeframes applicable to the information or data.

Contractor agrees to provide technical assistance and support to the Literacy Coaches in completing surveys and data collection tools to collect data regarding the ReadOhio coaching initiative in the South Region.

During the Agreement term, DEW may request Contractor provide ad-hoc data, documentation, or reports regarding the project. Contractor agrees to provide the requested data, information, and reports in the manner and format specified by DEW and in a mutually agreed upon timeframe.

DEW may require Literacy Coaches to submit reports to DEW related to ReadOhio coaching and regional implementation of state literacy initiatives (e.g., data on the effectiveness of coaching, using measurable data points; coaching service delivery plans; coaching dashboard entries, etc.).

The manner, method, and timeframes for such reporting will be determined by DEW. Contractor will provide support and technical assistance to the Literacy Coaches in submitting required reports and data to DEW.

2. REGIONAL LITERACY COACHING COORDINATOR (RLCC)

Contractor shall employ an RLCC that meets the minimum qualifications prescribed in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, to provide the services covered by this Agreement.

The RLCC shall be responsible for the direct oversight of and providing support, technical assistance, coaching, and professional learning to the Literacy Coaches funded by this Agreement. The general responsibilities, major duties and responsibilities, and recommended allocations of time for the RLCC role are set forth in Personnel Section of Appendix A and Exhibit A. It is expected that the RLCC will provide additional training, coaching, professional learning, and support systems to enable the Literacy Coaches to provide direct support to districts and schools to support the implementation and compliance with statewide literacy initiatives. It is expected that approximately 80% of the RLCC’s time will be dedicated to direct oversight and support of the Literacy Coaches.

It is expected that the RLCC will hold regular meetings with Literacy Coaches, both one-on-one and in groups, to foster a collaborative environment and address coaching challenges. It is further expected that the RLCC will monitor coach performance, address any deficiencies or concerns, and work in partnership with the DEW to ensure high-quality coaching services are provided to participating districts and schools. It is expected that the RLCC will regularly monitor and provide feedback to all Literacy Coaches to provide technical assistance, support, and evaluation.

Examples of best practices and possible meeting topics include:

• Sharing best practices and successful strategies.

• Addressing common challenges and facilitating peer-to-peer problem-solving.

• Providing updates on regional and state literacy initiatives.

• Engaging in professional learning activities relevant to coaching effectiveness.

It is expected that, as part of their direct oversight and supervision of the Literacy Coaches, the RLCC will conduct regular site visits of participating districts and schools in the South Region to observe literacy coaches in action and evaluate:

• Quality of coaching interactions with teachers and school leaders.

• The implementation of coaching plans within school settings.

• Overall progress of literacy initiatives at the school level.

• Feedback from school personnel regarding the effectiveness of the coaching support.

To support RLCC oversight and supervision of Literacy Coaches, DEW will provide to Contractor, through its RLCC, access to coaching logs, implementation plans, data reports, and other relevant documentation submitted by the Literacy Coaches to DEW to enable the RLCC to regularly review those coaching logs, implementation plans, data reports, and any other relevant documentation to monitor progress, identify trends, and assess the impact of coaching services in the South Region. Contractor agrees to provide the RLCC and Literacy Coaches with the necessary training and technical assistance to utilize these systems effectively.

It is expected that the remainder of the RLCC’s allotted time (20%) will be focused on efforts to support improving literacy coaching services within the assigned region and at the state level by collaborating with DEW and other Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinators to lead regional networks and the state ReadOhio Network, and develop resources and professional learning to support the broader ReadOhio literacy initiative. To ensure standardization across regions, the RLCC will collaborate with RLCCs for the North, East, West, and Central Regions to align coaching efforts in districts and schools across the state. The RLCC will build networks for coaches and leadership within the South Region by collaboratively planning with other coordinators for alignment of networks across the state. This may include providing regular updates to DEW and participation in monitoring of Literacy Coaches. Contractor will develop resources and professional learning materials related to literacy coaching services that are aligned with Ohio’s Model for Instructional Coaching for Literacy and Ohio's Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement and will make those resources and materials available to districts and schools in the Southern geographic region that do not have an assigned ReadOhio coach but wish to improve their own coaching activities. To facilitate productive communication between coaches and school administrators, including those in districts and schools in the South Region without ReadOhio coaching service agreements, the RLCC will also provide relevant resources, thereby supporting the wider literacy initiative.

Contractor is committed to providing the RLCC with the necessary tools, guidance, and collaborative partnerships to effectively monitor the performance of literacy coaches, address deficiencies, and work seamlessly with both Contractor and DEW to ensure the success of the regional literacy coaching initiative.

3. LITERACY COACHES

Contractor shall employ 15 Literacy Coaches that have the minimum qualifications, as prescribed in Exhibit B, which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, to provide the services covered by this Agreement. The general responsibilities, major duties and responsibilities, and expected allocations of time for the Literacy Coach position are set forth in Exhibit B. The coaches shall be under the direction of the Department but, consistent with Article VIII of this Agreement, shall not be employed by the Department. Each Literacy Coach shall have training in the science of reading, as defined under section 3313.6028 of the Ohio Revised Code, and evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction and intervention. The requisite training will be provided as described in Section 1.II above.

Literacy Coaches shall, in their provision of coaching services to participating districts and schools, implement Ohio’s Coaching Model, as described in Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement. Literacy Coaches will be assigned to participating districts and schools based on regional needs.

Personnel RLCC Primary Responsibilities

Katie Kilgour Manage Literacy Coaches • Lead hiring process for literacy coaches

• Directly supervise coaches and activities

• Provide professional learning, training, and support

• Support literacy coach development and provide technical assistance to address challenges

• Conduct site visits

• Meet 1:1 biweekly with each literacy coach

• Meet monthly with all coaches

Act as a liaison between literacy coaches and DEW to support effective implantation of Ohio’s coaching Model at the regional level.

• Meet with DEW at least monthly

• Complete and participate in DEW directed training

• Review and provide feedback on

Coaching delivery plans Provide additional support or technical assistance to schools and districts within assigned region.

Region-South Counties Adams Hocking Scioto Athens Jackson Vinton Brown Lawrence Warren Clermont Meigs Washington Gallia Perry Hamilton Pike Highland Ross

Budget

FY26

Deliverable QTY Unit of Measure Unit Cost Extended

Cost Project Management 1 Amount $65,000 $65,000 Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinators 1 Amount $144,882 $144,882

Literacy Coaches 15 Each $131,967 $1,979,505 Total: - - - $2,189,387

FY27

Deliverable QTY Unit of

Measure Unit Cost Extended Cost

Project Management 1 Amount $65,000 $65,000 Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinators 1 Amount $147,382 $147,382

Literacy Coaches 15 Each $134,382 $2,015,730 Total: - - - $2,228,112