- Fordham (probably our Ohio by the Numbers data although who can really tell?) is namechecked in this piece looking at the thorny subject of school funding. I think several things are conflated here, related to state and local funding matters, five-year forecasts, and property valuations. But that probably just illustrates the main point that
these guys simply want more moneyschool funding is really complex. (Marietta Times, 10/24/20)
- Speaking of data, the title quote for today’s Bites comes from this ABJ story, and I’m not sure that the quotes’ implications would ease my mind were I a district parent. I don’t know what numbers the reporter/the district thinks would constitute an “academic cliff”, but I would say that other than the generously-counted attendance data, the numbers that Akron City Schools present here sound fairly clifflike to me. That the elected school board president pronounces their current remote learning model “sustainable” for the foreseeable future would, were I a parent in that district, probably send me personally over the metaphorical cliff-edge. (Akron Beacon-Journal, 10/26/20) In that story, a district representative also references another ABJ story about how three particular families are handling the all-remote learning model going on in the district right now (and for the foreseeable future, tonight’s board vote notwithstanding). Here is that in-depth story, including details of the student with Down syndrome whose situation (well, the district’s purported response to his situation) was so concerning. In fact, as I read that story, nearly all of the students’ situations seem to be distinctly sub-optimal to me—except for the young woman who seems to be teaching herself into straight As. In other words (if I may be so bold): there seems to be very little change in the situation in that district from pre-pandemic times. (Akron Beacon-Journal, 10/25/20)
- Very appropriately given the foregoing clips, we also learned last week that Ohio ranks fairly high on the Center for Education Reform’s 2020 Parent Power Index. That is, the best states in the nation for giving parents power over their child’s education. (Think charter schools, choice programs, and teacher quality and innovation) We are in eighth place this year…and not a moment too soon! (The Center Square, 10/23/20)
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