- Editors in Columbus opined happily over the weekend in regard to the passage of HB 2. They seem to agree with our own Chad Aldis that the bill strikes an important balance: [It] “significantly strengthens the accountability structures…without compromising the school-level autonomy…” Nice. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/11/15)
- Meanwhile, folks far and wide were interested in talking about Ohio’s win of a $71 million grant from the USDOE’s Community School Program. To wit: two heavy-hitters from the Dispatch cover a variety of perspectives on the grant, including that of Chad Aldis. Says Chad, “Recruiting charter schools is much like attracting business to the state. They will look to bring in groups known to raise student performance.” He tells the formerly-Big D that a rigorous application will be key. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/11/15) The folks at EdDive also were talking with Chad about CSP last week. He points out that “low performing charters are just about as likely to replicate and expand as the high performers” in Ohio. He is hopeful that the CSP grant can be used to change that woeful dynamic. (Education Dive, 10/12/15)
- Two other outlets covered the passage of HB 2 this week. First up, editors in Toledo opined on the topic of “thank heavens, but what took you so long?” (Toledo Blade, 10/13/15) Patrick O’Donnell, meanwhile, took a look at the teacher pension provisions in HB 2 with his usual in-depth analysis. Interesting stuff. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 10/13/15)
- HB 2 discussion was eclipsed somewhat by the announcement yesterday that a judge denied an injunction that would have stopped the so-called Youngstown Plan in its tracks. (Gongwer Ohio, 10/13/15). Hands up if you guessed that the next thing I’d link to is the phrase “an appeal is planned”. (Youngstown Vindicator, 10/14/15)
- Good news from southwest Ohio this week. Strike that – GREAT news. Cincinnati has plenty of money, apparently, and educational opportunities for families are firmly under control. How do we know this? A group called the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition has sent a letter to the USDOE saying – relatively politely – that they believe the entire state of Ohio has no need of that $71 million CSP funding. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/13/15) Meanwhile, the district apparently has $7 - $8 million of its own money to spend on renovating a long-idle school building. Why? To keep a charter school – ANY charter school – from “snatching” said building from them. (Cincinnati Enquirer 10/13/15)
- Some homeschool families in central Ohio are receiving some interesting and unusual pushback from Columbus City Schools this year. I wonder why. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/14/15)
- To end with some good news; pre-K expansion funding is flowing throughout Ohio, as promised in the most recent state budget. Check out the big plans afoot in the Springfield area… (Springfield News-Sun, 10/12/15) …and in the Dayton area, among others. (Dayton Daily News, 10/13/15)
