It's not often that Ohio education makes national news for positive items, so when Gadfly found this article detailing the methods Shaker Heights school district - just outside of Cleveland - is using to close the achievement gap, we had to share it.
It's not often that Ohio education makes national news for positive items, so when Gadfly found this article detailing the methods Shaker Heights school district - just outside of Cleveland - is using to close the achievement gap, we had to share it. Among the district's successful reforms highlighted in the New York Times piece are an after-school tutoring center, a peer mentoring group, and early reading intervention. While the achievement gap in Shaker Heights has narrowed considerably, it still exists - a testimony, according to author (and veteran Times reporter) Michael Winerip, to the powerful influences of economics and home environment. But, the article makes clear, schools really can make a difference. And for those of us in Ohio, we need look no further than Shaker Heights for evidence.
"How one suburb's black students gain," by Michael Winerip, New York Times, December 14, 2005 [free subscription required]
"Shaker parents speak up about race," by Angela Townsend, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 28, 2005
Taking Spanish, French, or German is so 20th century: today's savvy students are all about learning Mandarin Chinese, one of the most difficult foreign languages to master. With China poised to dominate tomorrow's market (and many of Ohio's manufacturing jobs already departed for the Asian superpower), the U.S. government recently decided to sponsor a push towards learning Mandarin. Even while many Ohio students struggle to learn English and pass the state's graduation test, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has jumped on the learn-Chinese bandwagon. On Thursday, January 19th, ODE will sponsor an informational meeting for districts interested in offering Mandarin to their students.
"More students learning Mandarin Chinese," by Julia Silverman, Associated Press, January 2, 2006
"Announcing visiting teachers program from People's Republic of China," Ohio Department of Education
Remember when we reported that, despite major budget concerns, Columbus Public Schools planned to keep its closed school buildings rather than sell them to charter schools? (See here.) It seems that sentiment has reached Cincinnati, too. In many states, when a district wants to rid itself of a school building, charter schools get first bid. However, Cincinnati Public Schools took advantage of a loophole that allowed them to sell their old school buildings to non-educators rather than to needy charter schools. One of their buildings houses East End Heritage Community School (serving 186 children), which is a charter school sponsored by the district. The district has decided to evict East End school at the end of the Spring term so it can offer its building to non-educators. How's that for an example of putting kids first?
"Schools' sale brings in $3.4 mill," by Julia Silverman, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 30, 2005
"District will keep closed schools for temporary classes," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, December 5, 2005
With the start of the new year, several of Ohio's biggest school districts are facing change. Cincinnati is adding two new board members who hope to bring peace to that fractious board. In Columbus, controversial veteran board President Stephanie Hightower is on her way out. And in Toledo, three new board members took their seats and face two immediate challenges: hiring a new superintendent and erasing a budget deficit of $13 million. Cleveland Superintendent Barbara Byrd-Bennett expects to be out of her position by the first half of February, and the CPS board is searching for her replacement. Gadfly expects interesting stories to come from all these places in 2006, so stay tuned for more in coming editions.
"2 newcomers to lead school board," by Jennifer Mrozowski, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 3, 2006
"Leaving hurdles behind," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, January 4, 2006
"Fisher selected to lead board facing challenges," by Toledo Blade, January 5, 2005
"Cleveland schools form ideal profile of new CEO," by Janet Okoben, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2006
There have been big changes in Ohio's education landscape over the past several years, and the flurry of activity won't be slowing in 2006. So, what's in the crystal ball for the upcoming year in education, and how will it affect you? Gadfly presents four education issues to keep an eye on this year.
1. Increased accountability for charter schools and their sponsors
In 2006, the message to charter schools and their sponsors is "shape up or shut down." This year, community schools will be held to a significantly higher level of accountability. New high-stakes testing (See budget bill) will require schools that are performing poorly to make sufficient academic gains or to close their doors. Sponsors will also find themselves under a more watchful eye as the Ohio Department of Education seeks the authority to evaluate all sponsors, and sanction or close them for poor performance. Additionally, the State Auditor's office will likely show an increased interest in monitoring and reporting more closely on the financial workings of both charter schools and their sponsors. The political heat on charters has been turned up, and the flames aren't likely to lessen in 2006.
2. Intelligent design will be a hotly contested issue
Someone dressed as a Panda, a reference to the book, "Of People and Pandas," which promotes the study of "Intelligent Design" as an alternative to evolution, showed up at Ohio's first state school board meeting of 2006, one clue that the heated debate over evolution will be front page news in Ohio this year. A split board voted 9-8 to retain a class model called Critical Analysis in the state's science curriculum. Opponents argue that Critical Analysis is just another name for Intelligent Design or Creationism, which they say is religion, not science. The board's decision could put Ohio in the crosshairs of a federal lawsuit. Late last year, a federal judge in Pennsylvania struck down the teaching of Intelligent Design in Dover, Pa.
Relevant Reading:
"Students will continue to debate merits of evolution," by Scott Stephens, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2006
"In 9-8 vote, state panel retains science rules," by Catherine Candisky, Columbus Dispatch, January 11, 2006
"Intelligent design stays in textbooks; lawsuit fear doesn't sway supporters," by Jim Provance, Toledo Blade, January 11, 2006
3. The school funding debate will be reignited by an unexpected source
This year, policymakers in Columbus will have another chance to wrestle with the state's persistent school funding issue. House Bill 432, which would create a committee to recommend a new funding system, is coming before the legislature, and while it's doubtful that any real progress will be made on this front, one thing is certain, the school funding debate isn't going away anytime soon. What's more, charter schools and their supporters are likely to continue protesting the serious fiscal inequities. Charters generally receive about 30 percent less state funding than their district counterparts, and no school facility dollars, despite this being an unprecedented period of public school construction in Ohio.
Relevant Reading:
Quality Counts at 10, Education Week
Charter School Funding: Inequality's Next Frontier, Fordham Institute
4. Value-added assessment: ready or not, here it comes
After several years of piloting value-added assessment among a select group of Ohio school districts, the state will be making final preparations this year to ensure that schools are ready, willing, and able to implement value-added growth measures during the 2007-08 school year. It is possible that this program could even be fast-tracked to commence with charter schools in 2006-07 as a way to improve their accountability. While the thought of adding another indicator to the statewide accountability system makes some school leaders squirm (and who can blame them when looking at the ever expanding state report card?), Gadfly thinks that many critics will jump on the band wagon once they see how useful the data are for policy, district, and even classroom-level decision making. School leaders can get a head start on training their staff on the state's value-added assessment program this year at no cost to them. Follow this link to find the time and location of a value-added information session in your area.
It's not often that Ohio education makes national news for positive items, so when Gadfly found this article detailing the methods Shaker Heights school district - just outside of Cleveland - is using to close the achievement gap, we had to share it. Among the district's successful reforms highlighted in the New York Times piece are an after-school tutoring center, a peer mentoring group, and early reading intervention. While the achievement gap in Shaker Heights has narrowed considerably, it still exists - a testimony, according to author (and veteran Times reporter) Michael Winerip, to the powerful influences of economics and home environment. But, the article makes clear, schools really can make a difference. And for those of us in Ohio, we need look no further than Shaker Heights for evidence.
"How one suburb's black students gain," by Michael Winerip, New York Times, December 14, 2005 [free subscription required]
"Shaker parents speak up about race," by Angela Townsend, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 28, 2005
Taking Spanish, French, or German is so 20th century: today's savvy students are all about learning Mandarin Chinese, one of the most difficult foreign languages to master. With China poised to dominate tomorrow's market (and many of Ohio's manufacturing jobs already departed for the Asian superpower), the U.S. government recently decided to sponsor a push towards learning Mandarin. Even while many Ohio students struggle to learn English and pass the state's graduation test, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has jumped on the learn-Chinese bandwagon. On Thursday, January 19th, ODE will sponsor an informational meeting for districts interested in offering Mandarin to their students.
"More students learning Mandarin Chinese," by Julia Silverman, Associated Press, January 2, 2006
"Announcing visiting teachers program from People's Republic of China," Ohio Department of Education
Remember when we reported that, despite major budget concerns, Columbus Public Schools planned to keep its closed school buildings rather than sell them to charter schools? (See here.) It seems that sentiment has reached Cincinnati, too. In many states, when a district wants to rid itself of a school building, charter schools get first bid. However, Cincinnati Public Schools took advantage of a loophole that allowed them to sell their old school buildings to non-educators rather than to needy charter schools. One of their buildings houses East End Heritage Community School (serving 186 children), which is a charter school sponsored by the district. The district has decided to evict East End school at the end of the Spring term so it can offer its building to non-educators. How's that for an example of putting kids first?
"Schools' sale brings in $3.4 mill," by Julia Silverman, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 30, 2005
"District will keep closed schools for temporary classes," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, December 5, 2005
With the start of the new year, several of Ohio's biggest school districts are facing change. Cincinnati is adding two new board members who hope to bring peace to that fractious board. In Columbus, controversial veteran board President Stephanie Hightower is on her way out. And in Toledo, three new board members took their seats and face two immediate challenges: hiring a new superintendent and erasing a budget deficit of $13 million. Cleveland Superintendent Barbara Byrd-Bennett expects to be out of her position by the first half of February, and the CPS board is searching for her replacement. Gadfly expects interesting stories to come from all these places in 2006, so stay tuned for more in coming editions.
"2 newcomers to lead school board," by Jennifer Mrozowski, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 3, 2006
"Leaving hurdles behind," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, January 4, 2006
"Fisher selected to lead board facing challenges," by Toledo Blade, January 5, 2005
"Cleveland schools form ideal profile of new CEO," by Janet Okoben, Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 11, 2006
