Ohio to Florida: Better schools for thee but not for me?
Chad L. AldisIf you were on vacation earlier this month—lucky you—you may have missed the release of the 2017 NAEP results. On the whole, you didn’t miss much.
Charter schools 101: Why would we need charters in suburban, rural, or “good” districts?
By Susan Pendergrass
Behind the curtain of Ohio school choice
Jessica PoinerIn case you missed the headlines, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson recently resigned.
Seven takeaways from ECOT’s potential closure
Jamie Davies O'LearyAfter losing its sponsorship, ECOT, the largest e-school in Ohio, appears to be on the brink of closure.
When a district steps up, the state should step out of the way
Jeff MurrayAs reported by the Dispatch last week, Columbus City Schools has unveiled plans to expand selective admission among its magnet schools next year. This is a positive step in an often criticized district—an effort that should be applauded and helped to grow.
First-person perspective: Personalized learning is real—and it works
Jeff MurrayIn a recent blog post, University of Virginia cognitive scientist Dan Willingham posits three possible types of personalization in personalized learning—children learning at their own speed, pedagogical tailoring, and individualized content.
A deeper look at parent power
Jamie Davies O'LearyThe annual “parent power index” published by the Center for Education Reform raises worthy questions—how much power is afforded to parents, and what can they do to acquire more?
You’re invited to a discussion of school choice and collaborative solutions for education success
Ohio Education GadflyFor too long, the topic of school choice in Ohio has been divisive and polarizing. You are invited to attend a thoughtful and substantive discussion of school choice with experienced leaders from across the state. This effort to find common ground and collaborative solutions in support of students promises to be a great evening. We hope you can attend.
Ohio’s latest charter sponsor ratings are out: What do the numbers mean?
Jamie Davies O'LearyYesterday, the Ohio Department of Education released the second round of charter sponsor (a.k.a. authorizer) ratings.
What CER’s parent power report card gets wrong about Ohio
Jamie Davies O'LearySince 2012, the Center for Education Reform (CER) has released an annual “parent power index,”—a scorecard for states as well as an interactive tool for parents “to discover whether their state affords them power ov
Reputation or data: One parent's effort to identify "good" schools
Jeff MurrayFor the first time in their lives, my twin daughters are attending separate schools. It was a hard decision made after a lot of research and soul searching. My wife and I think both schools are good ones, but I’d be lying if I said I was 100 percent confident.
Ohio charter critics now stealing metaphors from horror genre
Jamie Davies O'LearyHas William Phillis, head of the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding and long-standing charter critic, been watching too many horror films this month?
You’re invited to an important hands-on workshop: Closing the achievement gap for economically-disadvantaged students
Ohio Education GadflyThe teachers and administrators at Columbus Collegiate Academy-Main Street have a strong track record of supporting their students in closing the achievement gap and putting them on a college prep path.
Rising star
NOTES: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
Schools were made to help students, not the other way around
Jamie Davies O'LearyIt’s frustrating feeling like a broken record, but Stephen Dyer’s comparisons between school districts and charter schools can’t go uncontested.
Compassion and academic rigor not mutually exclusive for kids in poverty
Jamie Davies O'LearyI recently visited United Preparatory Academy (UPrep). It’s a charter school serving students in grades K-4 (growing to grade five) located in Franklinton—one of Columbus’s poorest neighborhoods, where the median household income is thirty percent lower than the city-wide average.
Calling all aspiring filmmakers: How has school choice made a difference in your life?
Ohio Education GadflySchool choice is becoming more and more common across the country, creating more and more stories of student and family success. The Foundation for Excellence in Education wants to hear as many success stories as possible and has launched a contest to find them.
Thoughts on educational privilege from a middle-class parent
Jamie Davies O'LearyWhen it comes to gauging the performance of Ohio’s public charter schools, unfair comparisons and generalizations are all too common.
Equal access? Analyzing charter location relative to demographics in Ohio
Jessica PoinerBy expanding access to options including charters, choice advocates hope that more students will reap the benefits of attending high-performing schools. But do all families have charter options in their area?
Benefits of open enrollment from an Ohio superintendent's perspective
NOTE: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
Dropout recovery schools: a safe haven, not a safe harbor
NOTE: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
Pre-Kindergarten Impacts Over Time: An Analysis of KIPP Charter Schools
Jessica PoinerIt’s no secret that high-quality early childhood education can lead to significant and positive short-term impacts for children, particularly those from disadvantaged circumstances.
Charter schools have positive effects on traditional public schools located near them, at least in New York City
Jamie Davies O'LearyCharter opponents have long claimed that charter schools siphon resources away from the traditional public school system.
Ohio’s charter sector continues to contract, and here’s why that’s worrisome
Jamie Davies O'LearyThe big squeeze continues. Ohio’s charter sector shrinks again as reforms enacted in 2012 and 2015 are fully implemented. The Buckeye State will see a record-low number of new charter schools open this fall, a slow-down that persists for the third year in a row.
More than just numbers: Policy implications of the latest CREDO charter study
Jamie Davies O'LearyLast month, the Center for Research on Educational Options (CREDO) at Stanford University released a new analysis of the performance of charter management networks, entities that may be engaged to oversee the day-to-day operations of a charter school.
Kasich’s misstep on the evaluation of charter sponsors
Aaron ChurchillAt the end of June, Governor John Kasich vetoed a provision in the state budget bill that would have changed school grading calculations for purposes of evaluating the performance of Ohio’s charter
Whether school choice increases parental demand for information about school quality
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.An average of forty-four million unique visitors use GreatSchools every year to check out schools in their area and elsewhere.
School choice that works for rural communities
Aaron ChurchillIn a provocative headline, a recent Wall Street Journal article proclaimed that “Rural America Is the New ‘Inner City.’” The piece profiles Kenton, Ohio, along with several other towns across the nation that have recently suffered population losses, sluggish economies, and surging substance abuse.