Ohio will soon change how it evaluates your children's schools.
The state is giving parents the opportunity to be heard before the changes go into effect. On Wednesday, the first of several meetings will be held in the area.
The new standards are part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, also known as ESSA. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama in December 2015. The new law takes the place of the No Child Left Behind Act.
The ODE said under ESSA, schools will have more power at the state and local levels instead of having to follow a national standard. States will be able to set their own goals for improving graduation rates and how they identify and support struggling schools.
The Ohio Department of Education said before they submit their plan to the United States Department of Education, they want input from local parents on school testing and how schools are held accountable.
A few areas still up for debate regarding the new law are state testing, teacher evaluations, and state report cards.
The first meeting will be held Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at Grand Station at Quaker Station on the University of Akron campus, 135 S. Broadway.
