Grade inflation is rampant, but accreditors can help
By Jeremy Noonan
Can states help parents get un-muddled?
Elliot RegensteinBy Tim Daly and Elliot Regenstein
How much should we rely on student test achievement as a measure of success?
By Dan Goldhaber and Umut Özek
Gotta Give 'Em Credit: State and District Variation in Credit Recovery Participation Rates
Adam Tyner, Ph.D., Nicholas Munyan-PenneyCredit recovery, or the practice of enabling high school students to retrieve credits from courses that they either failed or failed to complete, is at the crossroads of two big trends in education: the desire to move toward “competency based” education and a push to dramatically boost graduation rates.
The perils of revising the Common Core
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D., Michael J. PetrilliBy Amber M. Northern and Michael J. Petrilli
The State of State Standards Post-Common Core
David Griffith, Victoria McDougaldEight years ago, we compared states’ English language arts (ELA) and mathematics standards to what were then the newly-minted Common Core State Standards. That report found that the Common Core was clearer and more rigorous than the ELA standards in thirty-seven states and stronger than the math standards in thirty-nine states.
Student-based budgeting in the Buckeye State
Jessica PoinerWeighted student funding, also known as student-based budgeting (SBB), is a funding mechanism that aims to allocate school resources more equitably.
Reading and Writing Instruction in America's Schools
David GriffithSince 2010, when most states adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has been committed to monitoring their implementation.
How Ohio should distribute its school improvement funds
Jessica PoinerWhen state report cards are released this fall, it will be the first time that overall letter grades are assigned to districts and schools.
Are High School Diplomas Really a Ticket to College and Work?
Jessica PoinerAn increasing number of headline-grabbing graduation scandals have renewed the public’s interest in how students earn a high school diploma.
Fordham statement on state board of education’s recommended changes to Ohio graduation requirements
Ohio Education GadflyThe state board of education voted today to recommend that the General Assembly extend previously-relaxed graduation requirements for the class of 2018 to the classes of 2019 and 2020.
Ohio’s new readiness seal: Soft skills, but a hard reality
Jessica PoinerIn case you missed it during the hustle and bustle of the holidays, Ohio recently announced how students can earn a new endorsement on their high school diplomas.
State ESSA plans embrace CTE, but there's still much work to be done
By Kate Kreamer and Ryan Reyna
National experts agree that Ohio’s school accountability system is too complicated
Aaron ChurchillLast week, Bellwether Education Partners (in partnership with the Collaborative for Student Success) released its review of Ohio’s plan to comply with the federal law known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
High achievers will benefit from most state ESSA accountability plans
Brandon L. WrightBy Brandon L. Wright
Good news for students and federalism: Most states step up on accountability under ESSA
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliBy Brandon L. Wright and Michael J. Petrilli
Rating the Ratings: An Analysis of the 51 ESSA Accountability Plans
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliThe Every Student Succeeds Act grants states more authority over their accountability systems than did No Child Left Behind, but have they seized the opportunity to develop school ratings that are clearer and fairer than those in the past?
A little known ESSA provision sheds some more light on Ohio’s graduation “fix”
Jessica PoinerA recent article in Education Week highlighted how an under-the-radar ESSA provision could spell trouble for states with multiple high school diplomas.
Illiteracy in Ohio: Where does the buck stop?
Madison YoderLast month, several urban Ohio school districts began sounding alarms over Ohio’s third-grade reading guarantee—a policy put in place several years ago that requires students who don’t reach reading proficiency by the end of grade three to be held back—fearful that a much larger number of their third graders won’t meet the requirements for promotion.
The first 17 ESSA accountability plans correct many NCLB-era errors
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliBy Brandon L. Wright and Michael J. Petrilli
Rating the Ratings: Analyzing the First 17 ESSA Accountability Plans
Brandon L. Wright, Michael J. PetrilliThe Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) grants states more authority over their school accountability systems than did No Child Left Behind (NCLB)—meaning that states now have a greater opportunity to design improved school ratings. Rating the Ratings: Analyzing the First 17 ESSA Accountability Plans examines whether states are making the most of the moment.
How states can avoid proficiency rates when measuring academic achievement under ESSA
Brandon L. WrightBy Brandon L. Wright
Three ways to improve Ohio’s ESSA plan
Aaron ChurchillIn early June, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released an updated draft of its ESSA plan for public comment. The department had initially intended to submit its plan earlier this spring, but after heavy pressure, state officials decided to delay submission until September.
Ohio shouldn’t worry about Delaware’s ESSA plan woes—yet
Jessica PoinerEarly last week, the Trump administration gave three states feedback on their submitted plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
How should Ohio seek to improve its lowest achieving public schools?
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.
House Bill 176: Stealing the playbook won’t lead to results
Jessica PoinerBack in February, U.S. News and World Report named Massachusetts the top state in its Best States rankings.