The Fordham Institute seeks talented individuals to fill two positions in Ohio: an Editor/Researcher to be based in either Dayton or Columbus; and a Research and Data Analyst for the Dayton office. Both must be interested in education policy and reform, tireless workers, and in general accord with Fordham's principles.
The Fordham Institute seeks talented individuals to fill two positions in Ohio: an Editor/Researcher to be based in either Dayton or Columbus; and a Research and Data Analyst for the Dayton office. Both must be interested in education policy and reform, tireless workers, and in general accord with Fordham's principles. We especially appreciate a literate mind and a sense of humor. For more information about the Editor/Researcher position, click here. For a complete description of the Research and Data Analyst opportunity, click here.
The May 4th charter school board governance training, held in Columbus, drew almost 100 board members and charter school stakeholders from across the state. Participants left with vital information about effective school governance and the myriad regulations, guidelines and statutes affecting Ohio’s charter schools--all presented by national and state experts. Event materials and presentations are available here.
Though school vouchers have met with a chilly reception by some in Ohio, other countries have warmed up to them quite nicely--for good reason, too. There’s mounting evidence that they’re having a considerable impact on student outcomes. Consider Columbia (yes, Columbia). During the 1990s, its government instituted a voucher program to increase access to high schools, providing over 125,000 students (via a lottery) with about half the cost of tuition at a private school. Researchers have found that those in the program were 15 to 20 percent more likely to finish high school, had lower rates of grade repetition, earned higher scores on academic assessments, and were more likely to sit for college entrance exams. In Sweden, education reforms in the early 1990s resulted in greater choice for parents and students via a government-funded voucher program. The result has been expanded schooling options and some compelling proof that competition and choice raise standards for everyone. As senators in Ohio debate the future of the state’s fledgling voucher program--as well as a new special education voucher initiative, they might want to look abroad for a little guidance and some compelling evidence for offering Ohio’s parents more choices and opportunities for their children’s education.
“Free to Choose, and Learn,” The Economist, May 3, 2007.
A piece of the pie
The spring legislative session is heating up, with the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee now deliberating on the House version of the state budget bill (see here). (Though it remains to be seen whether the Senate can maintain the unwonted bipartisan accord achieved the by House.) As the committee kicked-off hearings on the bill, it quickly became apparent that legislators have no shortage of ideas when it comes to how and where dollars should be spent to improve the education system. Senator Gary Cates (R-West Chester) is seeking a funding guarantee for rapidly growing districts; Senator Joy Padgett (R-Coshocton) wants dollars allocated to programs encouraging students to pursue postsecondary education (like the Post Secondary Educational Option); and Senator Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green) is seeking to offer incentives for schools that implement the Ohio Core curriculum in advance of the 2014 deadline. None of them bad ideas per se (though not all good, either), but as this finite educational funding pie gets divvied up, more than a couple folks are bound to be staring at an empty plate.
Giving it to us straight
Few people deliver grim news as well as Kati Haycock, president of the Education Trust and a leading child advocate in the field of education. Last week, she spoke at a packed event in Columbus (presented by the Columbus Metropolitan Club and sponsored by KidsOhio.org). The state’s leading educators, business leaders, philanthropic organizations and policymakers turned out for a hot lunch and some chilling statistics about the state of our nation’s schools and the loss of our competitive edge in most grades and subject areas on international assessments. While acknowledging gains Ohio has made, she reminded parties of its staggering and persistent achievement gaps as evidence of work yet to be done. Balancing the bitter with the sweet, Ms. Haycock also shared stories of high performing schools serving poor and/or minority students throughout the country--along with some specific (and common-sense) steps that we need to take in Ohio. Perhaps most notable was her emphatic contention that all good schools--be they charter or district--need help and support replicating, just as bad schools must be closed (view her presentation here).
All about the adults
More money and less reform. That seems to be the thrust of the joint letter (see here) sent to Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) by the Ohio Education Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio Association of School Business Officials and Ohio School Boards Association. Concerned about several provisions of the House-passed budget bill, the foursome lobbied for, among other things:
Sadly, there’s precious little that relates to improving student achievement or expanding quality learning opportunities for children in the letter. This one’s all about the adults.
The May 4th charter school board governance training, held in Columbus, drew almost 100 board members and charter school stakeholders from across the state. Participants left with vital information about effective school governance and the myriad regulations, guidelines and statutes affecting Ohio’s charter schools--all presented by national and state experts. Event materials and presentations are available here.
The Fordham Institute seeks talented individuals to fill two positions in Ohio: an Editor/Researcher to be based in either Dayton or Columbus; and a Research and Data Analyst for the Dayton office. Both must be interested in education policy and reform, tireless workers, and in general accord with Fordham's principles. We especially appreciate a literate mind and a sense of humor. For more information about the Editor/Researcher position, click here. For a complete description of the Research and Data Analyst opportunity, click here.
