Gadfly Bites 1/8/24—She says, he says, she says

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1. Fordham’s Jessica Poiner was on my radio and in electronic print this morning. “There are things that work,” she says. “You can get positive results if you just kind of roll up your sleeves and do the work.” What’s she talking about? Specific actions some schools are taking—and more schools should undertake—to help curb student absenteeism before it becomes a chronic problem. (Statehouse News Bureau, 1/8/24)
   
   

2. Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Steve Dackin was on my TV and in electronic print this weekend, as a guest on the State of Ohio show. Among other things, he says “Let the court system do what the court system does.” He might have been talking about several education-related topics there, sadly, but in this case he was specifically talking about an effort to stop the implementation of science of reading as the law of the land. He added “I know based on the research I’ve seen, that the Science of Reading produces results, unequivocally produces results.” Let’s hope the court knows that too. (Statehouse News Bureau, 1/6/24) You can watch the full interview here.
    
3. Former state supe Susan Tave Zelman was in the Cleveland paper this weekend (in electronic and ink-based print) with an op-ed. She says that Ohio has an opportunity to change education for the better based on a number of reorganizations, new hires (Director Dackin included), and refocused priorities that have just concluded. “Working collaboratively, and in partnership, these four agencies can present an alternative vision and strategies for innovative educational opportunities,” she concludes. A great sentiment to end our clips on today. (Cleveland.com, 1/7/24)

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