DEW20260009_OCALI_26_Vendor_Signed_SDsigned_26jun2025.pdf

Contract Number: DEW20260009

Agreement for Services-ESCCO (effective until June 30, 2026)

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 Educational Service Center of Central Ohio (hereinafter “Contractor”), located at 2080 Citygate Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219, 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, 2026, 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.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3517.13 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-127.16 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-102

IV. COMPENSATION

A. The total compensation to be paid to the Contractor shall not exceed seven million, seven hundred seventeen thousand, six hundred twenty-four, and 00/100 dollars ($7,717,624.00).

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 procurement, solicitation, and contracting of goods and services. When this contract becomes part of OhioBuys, the Contractor agrees to maintain and support its Supplier account and notify DEW when such updates have been made.

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 https://ohiopays.ohio.gov/ mailto:Fiscal.management@education.ohio.gov http://www.supplier.obm.ohio.gov/ https://das.ohio.gov/buying-and-selling/policies/purchasing-goods-and-services-pm-01 https://das.ohio.gov/buying-and-selling/policies/purchasing-goods-and-services-pm-01 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.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-126.07

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 R.C. § 124.01 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 USC 794(d), 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.

i. 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.

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

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-124.01 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-145.036 https://www.section508.gov/manage/laws-and-policies/section-508-law/

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 the code of Federal Regulations title 34. 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-A/part-99?toc=1 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1347.01

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 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 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.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-149 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-125.111 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4112.01

D. USE OF MBE AND EDGE VENDORS. Pursuant to R.C. § 125.081 requires state agencies to set aside purchases for Minority Business Enterprises (“MBE”) and Executive Order 2008-13S encourages 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 R.C. § 125.111 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 R.C. §§ 2921.42 and 2921.43. 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.

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-125.081 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-145.037 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-145 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-125.111 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-102 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2921.42 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2921.43 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3517.13 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3517.13 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-9.24

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.

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.

https://governor.ohio.gov/media/executive-orders/2019-12d https://governor.ohio.gov/media/executive-orders/Executive-Order-2022-02D https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-9.76

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.

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

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

iii. 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.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-1306

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

Educational Service Center of Central Ohio OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND

WORKFORCE

By: By:

Printed Name: Stephen D. Dackin

Title: Director

Date: Date:

June 3, 2025

CFO/Treasurer

David Varda

June 26, 2025

Appendix A: Scope of Work

Overview Educational Service Center of Central Ohio dba (“Contractor”) shall provide the professional services of the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (“OCALI”) to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (“DEW”).

OCALI shall focus on programs and services for children with autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities pursuant to R.C. § 3323.30 which includes autism; hearing impairment; multiple disabilities; orthopedic disability; other hearing impairment; traumatic brain injury; and visual impairment. OCALI agrees to provide the following at a minimum:

Work Plan

1. Interagency Collaborations.

Per ORC § 3323.34(A) OCALI will collaborate and consult with state agencies that serve persons with autism and low incidence disabilities.

a. State Agency Engagement. OCALI will maintain ongoing relationships with state agencies about ensuring individuals with autism and low incidence disabilities receive fundamental resources and support to establish maximum success in life.

b. Create Interagency Partnerships to Address Statewide, Regional, and Local Needs. OCALI will engage such representatives, establish, and maintain partnerships with those agencies to address statewide, regional, and local autism and low incidence-related educational needs on an ongoing basis via all OCALI Centers which help families and professionals navigate services across agencies. OCALI will support these relationships by developing strategic initiatives in the focus areas of the following at a minimum:

i. Disability identification, literacy, secondary transitions (e.g., Autism Center ED ID Series);

ii. Access and engagement (e.g., Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS), AT&AEM Center Resources);

iii. Literacy (e.g., Literacy Access for All Websites);

iv. Workforce development and secondary transitions (e.g., Lifespan Transitions Center’s

MAP Tool and MAP Teams); and

v. Qualification/training of service providers (e.g., Center for the Young Child’s Education

Station modules and resources’ Multi-System Youth & Families, MSNC Navigation Essentials, Multi-Disciplinary Comprehensive Assessment Team & Coaches).

c. Interagency Workgroup on Autism (IWGA). Pursuant to R.C. § 3323.31 OCALI will participate as a member of the Interagency Workgroup on Autism, established by the director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. As a member OCALI will participate in monthly scheduled Interagency Workgroup meetings throughout the year in addition to providing technical assistance. OCALI will also support DEW in leadership’s role to develop and implement initiatives identified by the workgroup.

d. Support Meaningful Family and Community Engagement. By leveraging a collaborative infrastructure to coordinate state partner investments in providing enriching environments that foster a sense of belonging, OCALI will develop an online learning experience to strengthen the capacity of programs serving youth with disabilities beyond the classroom—such as after-school care, extracurricular activities, youth clubs, civic engagement initiatives, etc.

i. Deliver a two-phase learning experience designed to support “beginners” and “experienced” staff with curriculum focused on universal access, environmental considerations, simple strategies to support communication, sensory, and behavioral needs, youth with complex needs, family engagement, peer interaction, community support, and reducing access barriers through informed program design and evaluation;

ii. Build and launch a dedicated web presence to host the online learning experience;

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3323.30 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3323.34 https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3323.31

iii. Establish an outreach plan to engage programs through a community of practice, technical assistance, and connections with families; and

iv. Develop a comprehensive project plan that encompasses content development, delivery schedules, communication strategies, stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms, process monitoring, and evaluation and reporting procedures.

2. Services Specific to Support Learners Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing.

To further support R.C. § 3323.34 the OCALI will facilitate statewide capacity for students with low incidence and sensory disabilities through collaboration with the Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services, including their educators, school administrators, students, and families.

a. Maintain Professional Development Hubs for High Leverage Instructional Practices. Collaborate with the Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services to establish and maintain professional development hubs throughout the state that provide coaching and job-embedded opportunities for teachers to implement high leverage instructional strategies. Collaboration to include:

i. Planning and conducting monthly meetings; and

ii. Providing DEW quarterly evaluation progress reports on professional learning attendance and impact on students.

b. Support Families of Students with Sensory Disabilities. Collaborate with the Ohio Deaf and Blind

Education Services by attending Monthly Network meetings to build knowledge and capacity of regional state support team consultants to provide high-quality coaching in the areas of sensory disabilities, assistive technology, and accessible educational materials.

i. Collaborate with the Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services to support families with students challenged with sensory disabilities. The initiatives aim to increase access, communication, and equity for learners who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired. These supports will include but are not limited to:

ii. Collaborative projects as defined by the Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness, the Assistive Technology and Accessible Educational Materials Center, Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services, and with prior approval by the Office for Exceptional Children.

c. Facilitate Statewide Capacity for Conducting Individual Specialized Assessments. Facilitate statewide capacity for conducting individual specialized assessments that address instructional and educational needs to students with sensory disabilities including but not limited to functional vision assessment, functional hearing assessment, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology.

d. Monthly Consultation. Provide monthly consultation on professional development or learning management modules regarding assessment, instructional needs for students with sensory disabilities to regional support providers as requested.

e. Beyond BEST. Implementation of the braille literacy training plan

i. Increase educators' capacity to teach and support braille literacy across all subjects, including STEM by ensuring equitable access to high-quality braille training for educators to support student proficiency in reading, writing, and STEM notation.

ii. Equip educators with the skills to efficiently access, create, and use braille materials. Train educators to understand the importance of and develop skills in creating accessible source documents. Enhance educators' ability to find braille materials and use non-visual technologies to support individuals with blindness. Increase braille production capacity in Ohio school districts.

iii. Educators will apply braille management strategies with support from training, TA, and self-help resources. Expand access to TA and training materials to support the implementation of braille skills. Enhance access to braille and nonvisual technology for Ohio learners by expanding and updating OCALI’s lending library.

3. Higher-Ed.

Pursuant to R.C. § 3323.34(B) OCALI will engage with Ohio Institutions of Higher Education in the development and implementation of teacher preparation courses and professional development for general and special educators, as well as related service providers, serving persons with autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities.

a. Ohio Dean’s Compact for Exceptional Children (ODCEC). OCALI will collaborate with the Ohio Deans Compact for Exceptional Children (ODCEC) in providing the organization and delivery of such teacher preparation courses and programs. OCALI will attend quarterly Deans Compact meetings and partner with ODCEC in providing national experts at the Global Disabilities Conference. OCALI will also respond and partner with colleges and universities as requested to support the development and implementation of instructional materials and other learning resources to include working with higher education pre-service programs on creating course content on the Whole Child.

b. Offer University Credit for Online Learning. OCALI will develop, update, and maintain modules designed for those who support, instruct, work with, or live with someone with autism and/or complex disabilities. The Autism Internet Modules (AIM), PBIS Tier II and Tier III Modules, Autism Certification Center, Assistive Technology Internet Modules (ATIM), Literacy Access for All, Promoting Access for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Blind or Visually Impaired, and Center for the Young Child’s Education Station guide users through case studies, instructional videos, pre-and post- assessments, discussion questions, activities and more. OCALI will develop a portal to allow instructors access to assign, track, and monitor student progress through modules. To allow participants the ability to earn graduate credits via these resources and other OCALI created professional development opportunities and virtual training OCALI will maintain its relationship with Ashland University.

4. SST Collaborations.

OCALI will maintain ongoing relationships with State Support Team (SST) personnel to help further connect students, families, and state agencies with supports and resources.

a. Build Capacity Through Ohio’s Statewide System of Support. Collaborate with SST personnel as well as the SST networks to build capacity through Ohio's Statewide System of Support, including collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and DEW, to address school district needs for educational services, educational assessment and evaluation, assistive technology, communication and literacy, family and community support and partnerships, out of school time, PBIS modules and training (especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3) , and secondary transition for persons with autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities.

b. Communities of Practice and Evidence-Based Resources. Attend all monthly SST director meetings, facilitate SST network meetings as requested by DEW, and collaborate with and respond to needs for building capacity through Ohio’s Statewide System of Support by developing, maintaining, and implementing website tools, resources, and learning modules for ongoing technical assistance to regional and district teams, in order to improve instructional practice and student performance. OCALI will maintain and update as needed advanced search and dynamic filtering on websites to facilitate access to resources and learning modules through the 11 District Plan work. A portal will be developed specifically for SST personnel to utilize with district partners for assigning and tracking progress through resources and learning modules.

c. Identify Regional Professional Development Needs. In collaboration with DEW, OCALI will provide support to in the identification of regional needs for building capacity through ongoing communication regarding DEW initiatives.

5. Family and Professional Organizations.

Pursuant to R.C. § 3323.34(C), OCALI’s Family and Community Outreach Center will collaborate with parent and professional organizations to equip and empower families with knowledge, information, and resources.

OCALI will support the overarching objective by raising awareness and acceptance within the community, by making connections and resources closer, and more accessible to those who need them most.

a. Develop and/or Update Resources for Families. Collaboration will occur at least monthly for meetings and on and as needed, as requested, to engage with, develop and/or update resources and training materials for both families and education-related professionals on topics associated with autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities including PBIS and MTSS.

b. Provide Resources to Family and Professional Organizations. Provide information, resources, and support through the Family and Community Outreach Center to family and professional organizations seeking services for their students and youth with autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities.

c. Partner with Family and Professional Organizations. Actively engage the State Support Team Family Engagement Specialists, Parent Mentors, Autism Society of Ohio, the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and other family and professional organizations in the development (or updating) of such resources and information dissemination. Develop new resources and update current resources for increased inclusivity, including how to best communicate with families from various subgroups.

6. Technical Assistance and Professional Development.

Pursuant to R.C. § 3323.34(D) OCALI will create, update, and implement professional development, technical assistance, intervention services, and research in the treatment of persons with autism and low incidence disabilities. Technical assistance will be provided to school districts and other special education service providers through designing and implementing statewide, regional, and district level professional development (PD) opportunities. This assistance may include support that addresses educational assessments, evidence based programming, and high leverage instructional practices for general and special educators serving students with autism spectrum disorders, low incidence disabilities, and/or other disabilities. OCALI will perform this work daily, which encompasses ongoing responsibilities required to manage and maintain requests by DEW, regional entities, and districts. Technical Assistance will be guided by DEW’s directives and focus areas. In continuation of ongoing PD efforts to implement action, and deliver evidence-based programs and technical assistance for districts and special education service providers OCALI will develop, perform, and/or maintain the following duties pursuant to R.C. § 3323.34(E):

a. Global Conference. Convene an annual global disability conference (OCALICONLINE), Advance website capabilities to improve the online experience of registrants, proposals, presenters, and attendees.

b. Certify programs for educators

c. Consultation and Intervention Services. At the request of DEW, provide consultation and intervention services to LEAs.

d. Disseminate Research. Disseminate across regional networks in Ohio current research in the education of students and youth with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities;

e. Maintain and Update Resources. To ensure relevancy and accuracy of evidence-based practices

OCALI will maintain, and update resources as needed.

f. Provide Accessible Professional Development for DEW. Facilitate PD for DEW in the areas of disability and user experience, accessible design, and remediation of inaccessible content to build DEW capacity in the areas of universal accommodations and best practices.

g. Universal Access to Online Professional Learning Opportunities. Provide universal access to professional learning opportunities. Modules will be maintained and updated per DEW’s specifications. Modules and topics are designed based on state level data which indicates a need for additional acquisition or knowledge which may include the following but not limited to:

i. Student Engagement (Autism Certification Center; Autism Internet Modules);

ii. Assistive Technology (Assistive Technology Internet Modules; Assistive Technology &

Accessible Educational Materials Center);

iii. Instructional Strategies (Teaching Diverse Learners Center, Universal Design for Learning

Center; Standards Based Instruction and Assessment; The Outreach Center for Deafness and Blindness);

iv. Behavior Management (Challenging Behavior: Expect Success Webinar Series; PBIS Modules, branded website, and trainings);

v. Multi-tiered System of Supports (Family and Community Outreach Center; Multi-System Navigation Center; Center for the Young Child); and

vi. Transition services/post-secondary outcomes (Lifespan Transitions Center; Transitions to Adulthood Guidelines.

h. Website Features. Develop website features to enable districts to complete online learning modules as a team to track and report on completion of professional development, as needed. Reporting portal will be advanced to allow stakeholders access to detailed data on district engagement with website resources.

7. Center of Excellence on Inclusive Practice (COE).

OCALI’s Center of Excellence will provide support and inclusive practices at the state, regional, and district levels which will build capacity in regional support systems to provide expertise, coaching, and support to districts. Both children and adults will be included in learning with general education peers per the IDEA requirement (1412(a)(5) of U.S. CDEW Title 20) that students be placed in the least restrictive environment.

This is an area of growth and improvement for Ohio, to better support all educators to provide instruction, accommodations, and modifications for students in the general education classroom. This also includes support for all educators on how to leverage and apply Universal design for learning, assistive technology, and high leverage practices for diverse learners specifically in the Least Restrictive environment. This work is crucial to systems building and succession planning.

a. Engage with Partners. OCALI will retain and engage national experts to bring together national, state, and local partners to design supports and resources for implementation by the COE. These leaders will have knowledge and expertise in inclusive educational programming for students with a range of support needs including universal design for learning, assistive technology, and high leverage practices for diverse learners.

b. Support State Initiatives Including PBIS. OCALI will implement a plan to support state initiatives including at a minimum: Multi-tiered Systems of Support, Literacy, PBIS, UDL, assistive technology.

i. Specifically, for the OhioPBIS.org website:

• Two PBIS tier 2 modules will be developed;

• A plan will be created to produce tier 3 PBIS modules in collaboration with DEW and designated members from the Ohio PBIS network. This plan will rely on the existing structure of the PBIS core team with two additional early childhood consultants. Module topics will include Early Childhood content as determined through the planning and Core Team processes;

• Tier 3 PBIS modules will be developed; and

• Reporting protocols and mechanisms will be maintained.

c. Implement High Leverage Practices. The COE will continue to be housed at OCALI with the goal of becoming a national technical assistance center in high leverage instructional practices for students with a range of support needs. The COE will promote equal access to educational opportunities and high-quality instructional practices for all students through the following activities:

i. Develop and maintain existing training materials including a resource repository on effective use of high leverage instructional practices;

ii. Provide technical assistance for educators, administrators, and families on effective use of inclusive practices; and

iii. Conduct research and evaluation on the effectiveness of materials for increasing the use of high leverage instructional practices in schools.

d. Support Science of Reading and Mathematics. Working with existing resources developing in collaboration with DEW, regional partners, and Ohio educators, OCALI will revise and expand content to develop a model curriculum based on Ohio’s Learning Standards in ELA and Math aligned with the Science of Reading supporting learners with the most complex needs.

i. Provide standards-based, units of study with detailed lesson plans, lists of vocabulary, suggestions for text sets related to grade-level topics, community connections and outings, and suggestions for the integration of accessible educational materials and assistive technologies.

• Align curriculum with the resources the TDL Center has developed, such as How-to Videos, OCALI’s Lending Library Curriculum Kits, and more;

• Ensure curriculum aligns with DEW’s core curriculum and instructional materials for ELA and Math as a supplemental resource;

• Include suggestions for progress monitoring assessments and standards-based grading using Ohio’s Standards-based Learning Progressions; and

• Make available OCALI’s online platform where plans and materials can be accessed at any time.

ii. Provide PD, coaching, and resources specific to developed curriculum to administrators and teacher leaders who work with students with disabilities, particularly students with complex profiles who benefit from additional access features, interventions, and differentiated language/communication, and literacy experiences.

8. Equipment and Resources.

Pursuant to R.C. §§ 3323.35 and 3323.34(F) OCALI will develop and manage a statewide clearinghouse for information about autism spectrum disorders and low incidence disabilities to include at a minimum:

a. Maintain Online Lending Library. Resources will be maintained for public distribution via an online audiovisual loan library of…