- Fordham’s report card analysis “Facing Facts” got another brief notice this week, Cincinnati style. Chili is not optional. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 3/15/16)
- Speaking of school report cards, editors in Sandusky want to remind readers that they were against testing and report cards before such hatin’ was cool. They opined with just such a reminder today, but still took a moment to give kudos to area schools who did well on the despised test. Sounds like the next big ride at Cedar Point should be called Ironclad Irony. (Sandusky Register, 3/16/16)
- For some reason, I am reminded of the beloved Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar when I read this piece. Two state legislators most vociferous in their hatred of the so-called “Youngstown Plan” (actually, a sharpening of Ohio’s Academic Distress Commission protocols currently narrowly focused on Youngstown) and the legislative process which brought it into being are offering a way out of the judicial impasse in which said ADC is currently mired. It does not involve defining the word “teacher”. Story developing, as they say. (Youngstown Vindicator, 3/15/16)
- A school district does not reach a state of academic distress overnight, and it takes even longer before it is placed under the aegis of an Academic Distress Commission. Mansfield City Schools is partway down that slope toward academic distress designation and its school board this week received the 67-page report from the Ohio Department of Education which identifies ways in which the district might change in order to approve its academic standing and thus avoid an ADC. It all sounds very positive based on this story. We’ll keep an eye out to see which way the slope tilts. (Mansfield News Journal, 3/16/16)
- Fascinating and detailed look at the statewide Latino Education Summit held in Toledo last week. The president of the board of Toledo Public Schools (also a bigwig at the awesome Toledo Zoo) spoke of proactive family engagement, high expectations of students, and cultural competency for educators as pressing needs. Dr. Lonny Rivera, the interim state superintendent and a former student/teacher/administrator in Toledo-area schools, talked of career tech education as being his point of engagement with high school and higher education back in the day. Excellent article. Take a look. (La Prensa, Toledo, 3/15/16)
- Congratulations to the team from Dayton Early College Academy for their second place finish in the 33rd annual statewide Mock Trial Competition! I have it on good authority that DECA has competed for years in the competition and this is a huge achievement for them. The piece itself is pretty dry – as one might expect for a press release from a group of lawyers – but click on the link for some neat photos and some other resources about Ohio’s Mock Trial competition. (Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, 3/15/16)
