Gadfly Bites 1/14/26—Hot topic

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National School Choice Week is still 10 days away, but every reporter and commentator around here seems to be talking about choice right now. Some talking truth, some talking smack. Either way, I love a hot topic. Let’s dig in!

1. Andrew Campanella, CEO for NSCW, has an op-ed in the Portsmouth Daily Times today discussing the under-appreciated topic of school choice in rural areas. “Families in small towns may find that their education options feel more limited than those available in larger cities. But that does not mean meaningful choices do not exist,” he concludes. “If you are considering a change—whether your child is entering a new grade level, you are looking for a better fit, or you simply want to understand what is available—taking time now to explore your options can be worthwhile. You may be surprised by what you find, and the right choice could make a lasting difference for your child’s future.” (Portsmouth Daily Times, 1/13/26)
   
   

2. The point of this piece appears to be the revelation that Ohio is not alone in using publicly-funded vouchers to support private school choices for families. In fact, 12 other states—along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico—do the same. Color me unsurprised; but perhaps that “news” is pointed at readers other than me. (You know who I mean, right?) I also guess this “news” is supposed to imply that if Ohio’s EdChoice programs are ultimately deemed unconstitutional (the actual point of this piece) that these other states should be worried that their programs will also be similarly brought down. Big “if”. (Cleveland.com, 1/13/26)
   
   

3. You know what else might be a revelation to Cleveland.com readers? A history of all the non-voucher public funding provided to private schools in Ohio for the last 60-some years. This includes textbooks, transportation, administrative support, and more to the tune of millions of dollars every year since before I was born. All without a peep from these Johnny-Come-Lately voucher grouchers. Unfortunately, former legislator Mike Curtain doesn’t manage to get to any of that in his 240-year anti-voucher history lesson/op-ed…despite the fact that his status as emeritus editor of the Dispatch clearly allows him to ignore the editorial word limit that every other pontificator has to obey and to yap about whatever history he cares to include for as long as he wants. Nice perk, amiright? (Columbus Dispatch, 1/14/26)
   
   

4. Speaking of long pieces about school choice, here’s an extensive look at how bothered teachers and other staff members at Cleveland Metropolitan School District are about the closure and consolidation of schools in the district. (Yes, I know there are two students quoted here, but their issues are not really the point—especially the graduating senior.) The hook is a district school choice fair held at CMSD recently and the focus is, as it has been from the start, staff members’ uncertainty around smaller, specialized high school programs that were “committed to” and “promised” by district leaders years ago. Most of them will undergo significant changes due to the long-overdue right-sizing of the district footprint (aka “consolidations and closures”), and yes, some will be eliminated. But sometimes you must rethink your promises in light of giant-budget-hole-shaped reality. I did read the full story—for you—but I will admit that I wanted to stop after the first sentence…in which we discover that the word “engineering” was misspelled on the sign touting one of these small/specialized high school programs that everyone wants to save. Feels like some revamping of that one in particular would be a good idea. (Signal Cleveland, 1/13/26)

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