- Color me delighted to read this detailed and interesting coverage of Fordham’s recent EdChoice report. It includes in depth analysis of the methodology and findings, an interview with the lead author, national perspective on vouchers and this particular data, and discussion of the ongoing lawsuit here in Ohio looking to kill EdChoice. Awesome! (The 74, 1/24/23)
- A big old expansion of EdChoice voucher eligibility—to every student in the state—is among the education agenda items on the minds of some legislators according to Gongwer. More money for charter schools and supports for homeschool families are also on the very long list as budget season gets ready to start. (Gongwer Ohio, 1/23/23)
- Also likely to be hotly debated in the General Assembly: An overhaul of K-12 education governance in Ohio, as per Senate Bill 1. That debate—on the merits of moving responsibility for K-12 education oversight from the state board to the executive branch—is already happening in the editorial office of Vindy.com. In fact, the editors seem to be arguing against themselves—in their typical fashion—in this opinion piece. Their conclusion? Who can tell? (Vindy.com, 1/24/23)
- One of the bigger difficulties in finding school bus drivers, as I understand it, is that it is a morning and evening job only. School districts don’t give you other work to do in between so the gig appeals to only a small fraction of possible applicants. (Not to mention the clean driving record and CDL certification requirements.) Here is the quick and joyous story of a teacher and coach in Springfield Local Schools in northwest Ohio who got the required licensure and puts on his third hat to fire up a yellow bus whenever he is available and needed to fill in. (WTOL-TV, Toledo, 1/23/23)
- Here’s a great story about a number of Cincinnati area seniors who were accepted to the University of Cincinnati via a new program aimed to boost the number of Black and Hispanic students, as well as first-generation college-goers, matriculating at UC. Ten of the students also received full ride scholarships along with their acceptances. And while I appreciate the private school student who said she has wanted to be a Bearcat since seventh grade, I also appreciate the Cincinnati City Schools student who noted that this acceptance and scholarship was just one of several she had received with more likely on the way. Keep your options open, kiddo. Find the best fit. (Local 12 News, Cincinnati, 1/23/23) What else is goin’ on at UC these days? CI 3010, a.k.a. Save our Schools: Education Controversy and Reform. Here’s a look at the class as offered every fall semester by the University Honors Program and housed within the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. Sadly, we do not get to hear what students’ final proposals were this time around nor how they were argued. Shame. (University of Cincinnati blog, 1/23/23)
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