- The CREDO report on e-school performance release earlier this week continues to ripple through Ohio media outlets. Chad is quoted in Gongwer’s report from yesterday. "Ohio shouldn't back away from its disappointing NAEP results," he said. "This is a benchmark the state should use to gauge its long-term progress." (Gongwer Ohio, 10/29/15). The formerly-Big D recycled Chad’s previous-published quote in this story on reaction to the report by ECOT, Ohio’s largest virtual school… (Columbus Dispatch, 10/29/15) …as well as in today’s op-ed in which editors opine in agreement. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/30/15)
- Speaking of Dispatch editorials, here’s an interesting one from yesterday in which editors express happiness that Ohio’s post-PARCC tests have been well-received by educators thus far and urge folks to give the new tests a chance. Sounds sensible. (Columbus Dispatch, 10/29/15)
- Leaving the realm of sensible far behind now, loyal Gadfly Bites subscribers may recall the “Leap Frog” reading tutoring program in Akron. It was started by a group of former politicians/candidates with materials and in spaces that were begged and borrowed in a zealous attempt to help city third graders pass the state’s reading test and be promoted to fourth grade. As the second summer for the program ended a few months ago, the founders were touting some serious success among the growing numbers of students passing through their makeshift program. This week, the Beacon Journal suggests that that reading test success may be exaggerated. (Akron Beacon Journal, 10/28/15) Why is this still an issue for investigative journalism? Because three of Leap Frog’s zealous founders are running for office – city council and school board. One of those gentlemen – running for school board – is the subject of this investigation into personal finance, although given Leap Frog’s shoestring-style development I’m not sure why him having debt is a surprise to anyone. Worth a read for lovers of bare-knuckles politics. (Akron Beacon Journal, 10/29/15)
- Lest you think that this rough style of democracy only exists in Akron, I see that bet and raise you two Northwest Ohio school board races. A Toledo city councilmember sent out a letter to potential voters on city letterhead with the city seal on it – although paid for by her own campaign and duly disclaimered – in which she endorsed candidates for school board races in Toledo and a suburban district. This is neither illegal (“The city’s seal isn’t copyrighted, so there’s no prohibition against using it”) nor in breach of Ohio’s election ethics rules, a fact of which only the city councilmember seemed to be aware until this week. “I love politics,” the councilmember was quoted as saying last month, “I know how to play politics.” No question here. (Toledo Blade, 10/30/15) The Blade knows how to play too: here are the just-published personal credit scores for all of the city’s mayoral candidates. In a nice bit of understatement, the reporter says, “Damaging credit reports have hurt candidates’ chances of getting elected in the past.” (Toledo Blade, 10/30/15)
- Lima City Schools is on the short list of districts in Ohio teetering on the brink of an Academic Distress declaration such that they might become the next Youngstown (of the well-known “Youngstown Plan”). On their most recent state report card, the district received either D or F grades in all measurable areas, including overall achievement, graduation rate, and progress. So I can only conclude that the former U.S. congresswoman and long-standing state school board member who uttered the phrase “I’m very, very impressed with Lima schools” after a daylong fact-finding visit to the district must have been in Peru rather than Northwest Ohio. (Lima News, 10/29/15)
