Not sure if it’s the impending arrival of Halloween or of next week’s election that is curtailing the education news stories (two very different versions of trick or treat there), but for whatever reason, there’s not much to report on today. But let’s make the most out of what we have, shall we?
- First up, Sports. LeBron James is interviewed about his foundation and specifically its Wheels for Education program which aims to “rescue” and “save” (I love sports rhetoric) Akron kids “when they need it most”. Some evidence is presented that the two-year-old program is already helping to improve reading scores among participants. And LeBron himself is confident that if the program proves to be sustainable, it can be expanded beyond Akron City Schools. Sounds fantastic. Now, who is this guy again? (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- Next up, Reality Television. Specifically, the “teen mom” genre gets an important twist. We first brought you this story at the end of last school year: Katie Nethers went to West Virginia to get her GED when she learned that Ohio law required a superintendent sign off on GEDs for people under the age of 19 and her district’s supe wouldn’t sign. But rather than stopping there, she campaigned and testified to change that sign-off requirement (and the minimum age for a GED as well). The changes were signed into law and went into effect in September. Ms. Nethers is pleased. There is obviously some concern that making it easier to get a GED will end up encouraging some kids to drop out who might otherwise persevere, but surely this situation is not unique and the positive outcome here is one that we should applaud and encourage. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- Finally, Local News. A new report card system rolling out in Perrysburg’s elementary schools this week is the third in as many years. But this one is a fairly minor refinement of last year’s report card, which replaced As and Bs with a number system that points toward end-of-year mastery. This time, there are four levels of achievement and subjects are broken down into subcategories so parents can see how the final level was calculated. Same thing is happening in Newark City Schools as well. However, Newark’s version replaces As and Bs with a different five-letter series that again is based on mastery. Parents are perplexed at the first rollout, but hopefully this explanation will help. (Newark Advocate)
