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- Our theme today seems to be good news which is for some reason being couched as bad news. The good news here is that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, with the wholehearted support of Governor DeWine, is moving full speed ahead on making sure that teachers across the state are properly trained in the science of reading ASAP. The story is framed by extensive discussion of the lawsuits around both the DEW and the science of reading law, creating the implication (to me at least) that everything should be at a standstill on both of these fronts until the lawsuits are resolved one way or the other. Now THAT would be bad news. Glad it ain’t playing out that way. (Toledo Blade, 1/11/24)
- The bad news being foregrounded here is the suggestion that the State Board of Education might run out of money sometime around the middle of the year. But the buried good news is that that means there is nearly six full months for something to be done about it. Which is, of course, what will happen. Also of interest here: The state supe’s plan to “get as many interactions as we can around educational discussions … so that we continue to be viewed as a key component to the educational infrastructure in this state.” Sounds like mission creep to me. And a pricey time suck. (Ohio Capital Journal, 1/12/24) Also couched as bad news (a.k.a. the “latest blow”): A proposal for the state board to relocate from downtown to a state-owned building in Reynoldsburg. Specifically, this is determined to be bad because it will be harder for board members to “walk right on over to the Statehouse” if they are no longer based downtown. But face time with legislators is surely far less pressing now as long as the board focuses on their assigned tasks only. And (good news news) the new location will likely be tons cheaper than prime downtown real estate, thus making more efficient use of their budget. Additional good news: It will likely be easier for constituents to visit them out in the burbs vs. downtown AND will provide free surface parking for everyone who does so. The move doesn’t sound like a done deal yet, but I sure hope it happens for all those good news reasons. (Cleveland.com, 1/9/24)
- Finally today, you have to admire the chosen phrasing of the intro for this piece: “The state has given private school vouchers to three times as many students under its EdChoice expansion program this year compared to last year.” Like DEW staffers were driving around the state in a truck and throwing vouchers randomly out the back. There’s a lot I could say in response to that single sentence, and indeed to the rest of this typically dreary voucher coverage. But I think I’ll stop now and limit myself to just one further word: Yay! (NBC4 News, Columbus, 1/11/24)
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