- Our friends at School Choice Ohio have created a nifty voucher-eligibility tool that went live on their website last week. It’s a tough business because there are a lot of variables (income, assigned school, school attending, future year assignments, etc.) but it seems like a great way to give families some initial information about one of the least-understood and least-clear options potentially available. There are several items in the linked piece. The SCO story is toward the bottom. Worth a look. (Gongwer Ohio)
- I was a bit premature in calling the PD’s “test mania” story finished last week. The final piece – talking to a couple of parents who’ve opted their children out of as much testing as possible – was published later in the day on Friday. Both of these folks have, I believe, testified against Common Core as well, mostly on testing concerns. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- Speaking of continuing series, the Beacon Journal continued its look at disciplinary transfers in Akron schools, which we first noted on Friday. This time, a historical perspective. A contract change made in the wake of a teachers strike in 1989 allowed Akron teachers to sit in on student discipline panels. The result was almost-automatic transfers of any student who hurt or threatened a teacher. But that all changed beginning in March 2013. Transfers are down, but relations between the teachers union and district administration appear to have been harmed by the change. (Akron Beacon Journal)
- Speaking of teachers, the Blade thinks that student test scores are – for the first time ever – part of the mix of issues involved in the district’s efforts to fire a Toledo teacher. Sounds like a small part of the mix, and there are other issues speaking far more loudly than test scores in this case. Interesting. (Toledo Blade)
- To end on some good news, the Dispatch visited a fantastic open house event this weekend for KIPP Columbus. If you haven’t seen pictures of the amazing new building, do take a look. This is a learning environment unparalleled in Columbus and, hopefully, many more children will be able to call this campus “their school”. Nice. (Columbus Dispatch)
