- We start today with some huge and fantastic news. The owners of the Cleveland Browns are donating $10 million to the Breakthrough Network of schools, to support the network’s plan to reach 20 high-quality charters in the CLE by 2020. Wow. Huge congratulations to the team at Breakthrough. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 12/23/15)
- The recent story on Dayton Public Schools’ poor test scores generated a response from the district which is worth a read. It is a tiny bit worrying that their response included early reference to the “safe harbor” status currently in place for Ohio’s schools. The fact that no sanctions will come down on the district for a few years due to those poor test scores should not be a balm for anyone. However, their statement ended with the district pledging it would “continue to do the hard work without excuses.” Let’s hope it is so. (Dayton Daily News, 12/22/15)
- Staying in Dayton for a moment – and focusing on the positive as the paper invites us to do – four photography students from Stivers School for the Arts have placed highly enough in the national YoungArts competition that they will be able to travel to LA, New York, or Miami (their choice, travel expenses paid) for master classes and other professional experience related to their art. Congratulations to all involved. (Dayton Daily News, 12/21/15)
- Switching gears completely, here’s an interesting piece about the popularity of Newark High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. It is the largest corps in the state and if it maxes out next year as expected, 20% of the student body will be participating. (Columbus Dispatch, 12/21/15)
- Gongwer answers the burning question of just what the heck a JEOC is. The Joint Education Oversight Committee is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative panel to get up and running in January. Their charge is to provide insight into education policy proposals and programs to determine their effectiveness. The smaller group will take that information back to their respective chambers to help craft and tweak legislation at hand. "It isn't a second education committee," the incoming chair assures us. "We will delve into specific topics that may go beyond the complexity or may need oversight," Should be interesting to watch JEOC develop. (Gongwer Ohio, 12/21/15)
- Finally, the Enquirer published a second guest commentary about the characteristics wanted in a new state superintendent. This one takes quite a few interesting and personal twists before it gets to the point. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 12/21/15)
