Youth Committee Conference Call
March 14, 2000
3:30 - 5:00 PM

Chair:	Ernie Sullivan
Board:	Deborah Catri Kathy Mead - represents Martha Dorsey Richard Brown
Staff:	Lyn Bissonnette John Weber Kris Cox

 

The committee reviewed the agenda and Ernie added the following two additional agenda items:

• Youth comments received from public hearings, and
• Department of Labor’s response to Ohio’s Youth Services Transition Plan

Ernie requested clarification from staff on the Department of Labor’s comments regarding the deficiencies of the Youth Transition Plan. He mentioned that Senator Furney raised the question as to who will be addressing these concerns and responding to the Department of Labor (DOL). Lyn responded that it is common to receive letters from DOL requesting additional and clarifying information. The DOL letter is separated into Enclosure 1 and Enclosure 2. Enclosure 1 provides a detailed description of the areas that the State must address in order to receive approval of the Youth Transition Plan. Enclosure 2 provides a description of concerns that do not have to be addressed for the youth plan approval, but are to be considered for the full plan submission. Within Enclosure 1 there are overall comments and specific comments to the youth transition plan. Lyn stated that Comment 1 of the overall comments will be addressed by ODHS staff and Comment 2 of the Overall Comments will be addressed by OBES staff. Lyn and her staff will be addressing the specific comments.

Ernie referred to agenda item one, review of local Youth Plans by staff. John Weber reported that 14 local youth plans have been submitted. Each plan addressed the WIA 10 required elements for youth, addressed summer youth programs and their connection to local education programs. He mentioned that no "new" or breakthrough ideas emerged, but that was due to the nature of the request for compliance information in the youth plan document. It was discussed that many exceptional youth past practices exist, however these program operators may not be in existence after July 1. It may be too soon to review new youth programs. Ernie requested that two programs present 20 minutes each at the March 22 Youth Committee meeting on breakthrough ideas and expected outcomes. He stressed that the committee would like to hear programs with new and different "breakthrough" ideas. John agreed to work with staff to contact youth programs to present.

Ernie discussed the third and fourth agenda items regarding further discussion on the outcomes for youth programs as developed at the February 16 Youth committee meeting. Ernie lead the discussion on setting specific measurable outcomes. The following draft benchmarks resulted:

1. 100% of Ohio Youth should complete high school with an individual career plan and as determined by random sampling.
2. 100% of Ohio’s Youth will complete an employer expectation program.
3. 75% of Ohio’s youth will receive a paid or unpaid work experience.
4. 100% of youth will participate in service learning programs or activities.
5. Increase the identification and participation rates of out of school and at-risk youth.

There was discussion on what is the current statewide graduation rate and the graduation rate over the past 5 years. This would assist in the benchmarking of several of the outcomes. Kris Cox will supply the committee with these rates from the Ohio Department of Education report card and proficiency test data. Ernie asked Kris to also gather state data on the truancy rate before benchmarking a truancy outcome. (This information is attached to these minutes). Ernie will revise these draft measurable outcomes and bring to the March 22 Youth Committee.

Ernie requested a summary of the public comments regarding the youth section of the State plan. Lyn said that to date no public comments were received specific to the youth section of the State Plan. Ernie asked if the Department of Labor’s request letter could be summarized and to present the responses completed by OBES and ODHS staff at the March 22 meeting. Lyn said she would have a summary of the DOL request and present the draft responses.

Ernie reviewed and summarized the conference call as follows:

1. John will organize and request the two youth programs to present for 20 minutes each at the March 22 Youth Committee meeting.

2. Lyn will have a summary of the public comments on the State Plan, highlighting any youth comments.

3. Lyn will present a summary of the DOL letter regarding clarification of Ohio’s Youth Transition Plan.

4. Ernie will revise the specific measurable outcomes for further discussion.

5. Kris will provide Ohio Department of Education statewide data on graduation rates and truancy rates.

The call concluded at 4:50 P.M.