The Education Gadfly Weekly

A distinguished panel of scientists awarded Ohio's K-12 science standards a "B" in a new nationwide review of state academic standards for primary-secondary school science released today. The State of State Science Standards 2005—the first comprehensive study of science academic standards conducted since 2000—appraised the quality of K-12 science standards as states hustle to meet the No Child Left Behind Act's mandate for testing in this critical subject. The overall results are mixed. Fifteen states flunked, and another seven earned "D" grades.  Nine states and D.C. merited a mediocre "C." The states earning "A" marks in the new evaluation include California, Virginia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Indiana, New York, and New Mexico.

Every state received a letter grade based on how well its standards met a set of rigorous criteria, including:

• Do the standards contain clear and fair expectations by grade level for students?
• Are the standards organized in a sensible way, both showing logical progression from grade to grade and easily navigated so teachers, parents, and the public can understand?
• Is there an appropriate amount of science content and, if so, do the standards outline the best approach to share that content?
• Are the expectations outlined specific enough, yet set high aims that will equip students with the science skills they need for college?
• Are the standards appropriately serious, or do they incorporate pseudo-scientific fads or politics?

 "The National Academies, Thomas Friedman, and others have called on Americans to 'get serious' about science, but few state standards can fairly be described as serious," said Chester E. Finn, Jr. "We all know that solid standards like Ohio's don't guarantee a good education for a state's students, but weak standards make it much less likely."

The State of State Science Standards can be found on our web site.

• Declining enrollment due to, among other things, the burgeoning of charter school options, the exodus of families to the suburbs, and smaller Catholic families, has conspired to force five Dayton Catholic schools to consolidate into two buildings. The effort will allow the schools to share the costs of staffing, building space, and other services. There may well be a lesson here for some of Dayton's smaller charter schools, and perhaps even for the Dayton Public Schools.

"5 Catholic schools to combine," by Anthony Gottschlich, Dayton Daily News, December 2, 2005

• A study comparing 2005 NAEP ("the nation's report card") results across eleven major cities showed serious weaknesses in the performance of Cleveland district students. Top cities included Austin, TX and Charlotte, N.C.

"Cleveland students near back of the class," by Ellen Jan Kleinerman, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 2, 2005

• The financial struggles of the Columbus Public Schools have been well chronicled of late. District leaders even considered lengthening this year's winter break to save on heating bills. Unfortunately, these economic challenges have not been painful enough for the district to agree to sell unused or underused school buildings to needy charter school operators, some of whom have more students than space.

"District will keep closed schools for temporary classes," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, December 5, 2005

"Columbus students' break may get longer," by Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch, December 1, 2005

"District puts kibosh on plan to lengthen winter break," by Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch, December 3, 2005