- Editors at the Dispatch opined on the need to fix charter school law in Ohio – now. Due is given to the recent CREDO and Bellwether reports on the charter school sector in Ohio, to Fordham’s role in getting those reports done and out in the world, and to Governor Kasich’s pledge to make change happen next year. Now the hard work begins. (Columbus Dispatch)
- Lots of Ohio news outlets are looking back on the 130th General Assembly now that it is over; mostly in large-scale wrap up pieces. Journalist Ben Lanka however is focused specifically on the legislative challenge to Ohio’s Learning Standards (including Common Core). Chad is quoted in this story, which notes the failure to repeal Ohio’s Learning Standards this time around, and assuring us that the legislative fight isn’t over yet. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
- Like a fun-house-mirror image of item 1 above, editors in Youngstown opined on the need to fix charter school law in Ohio – now. However, there is no mention of the CREDO and Bellwether reports, the Vindy claims credit themselves for shining light on the need for action, and their suggestion for action is a bipartisan commission outside of elected officials. Weird. (Youngstown Vindicator)
- Like a mirror-image of item 2 above, the Dayton Daily News also talked about the fate of Common Core repeal legislation in the 130th General Assembly. They seem a lot more pessimistic about the effort’s ability to reconstitute next year, and about its ability to succeed even if repeal gets back on the agenda. NOTE: this item is excerpted below to include only the relevant text. (Dayton Daily News)
- With a split vote of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s board, another charter school has joined the partnership with the district. Menlo Park Academy, a charter for gifted students, will share in local funds provided by the terms of the levy which passed in 2013. Why the tight vote? Menlo Park’s demographics, which don’t look very much like CMSD’s as a whole. There’s a huge discussion of race and giftedness and education funding going on on the PD’s website, but two important points are being shortchanged in the sometimes-heated rhetoric: first is that Menlo Park will only receive local funds for the CMSD students it enrolls – something like 10% of their student population – and second is that Menlo Park is looking at moving to a new facility that is intended to make the school "more visible" to city residents. Interesting situation with some possibly large implications down the road. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- This is the first year of free meals for all students attending Columbus City Schools. Participation in both breakfast and lunch programs is way up in the first three months of the school year, and officials are looking for ways to boost it even more. Now, about what’s on the menu… (Columbus Dispatch)
