- The state board of education voted 16-3 yesterday to ask the General Assembly to legislate a “one-year-only bailout” which would allow this year’s juniors (the putative graduating Class of 2018) other ways to earn their high school diploma besides the new test-based requirements which are scheduled to go into effect for that aforementioned class. In the end, a majority of the board accepted the so-called “graduation crisis” premise and supported less rigorous alternatives. One of the few voices arguing publicly against such weak-sauce alternatives was our own Chad Aldis. His testimony features in all of the following stories. Kudos to public media’s Andy Chow for his almost-poetic retelling of events, complete with a reference to the Broadway musical Hamilton. (Statehouse News Bureau, via IdeaStream public media, 4/11/17) Sadly, no student will be required to show knowledge about Hamilton the musical or Hamilton the man if the new requirement of 93% attendance is the basis of their diploma. The Dispatch version makes sure to quote Chad as saying 1994 was the last time Ohio diplomas had no link to an objective proficiency measure. We liked Jim Carrey films a lot in 1994 too; 3 of them in the top-15 grossers that year. Just sayin’. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/11/17) The DDN took a second to note that Fordham sponsors charter schools before including a bit of Chad’s testimony before appearing to agree with local legislator Peggy Lehner, who’s pretty OK with all this. Nope. I don’t know why either. (Dayton Daily News, 4/11/17) Gongwer was thorough in noting the back and forth on the issue among board members. Lehner took an interesting line with board members, saying that they would have more input into the change if it were done now rather than if they voted to wait. Wonder what that meant? (Gongwer Ohio, 4/11/17) Interestingly, the AP seemed fairly skeptical of this whole endeavor, taking pains to quote board member Kara Morgan who wondered whether the “one-year-only” business might not be a bit of a Trojan Horse. (AP, Via Blade, 4/11/17) The PD seems to think the fact that an attempt to include the Class of 2019 in the moratorium was voted down yesterday mitigates that fear of a permanently-lowered bar. They also take pains to note that some even lamer diploma criteria (participation in sports and student clubs) were rejected in crafting the “bailout” plan, but since those recommended include the aforementioned less-than-perfect attendance (which in Ohio is mandatory, you know) and a 2.5 GPA, this is really just splitting hairs. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/11/17) Given that last bit, it’s might seem a little surprising that an op-ed arguing against the lowering of the graduation bar – written by our own Chad Aldis and Aaron Churchill – saw the light of day in the PD. But it did. This morning. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/12/17)
- A “competing” op-ed in support of the lowered graduation bar for the Class of 2018 was published in the PD back in January and linked to Chad and Aaron’s piece (which, again, was published this morning). It was written by a teacher from Elyria City Schools. And that fellow should know, because Elyria is already an “exceptional” school system, according the supe’s state of the district report earlier this week. In fact, supe says it’s got just a point or two to go before he can report that it is an “excellent” school system. What does he use as criteria for this determination? Sports, extracurriculars, and some swanky new school buildings on the horizon – complete with “fidget chairs” for kids. Oh, and the fact that kids and families have almost stopped fleeing the district. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 4/11/17) Wonder why the committee looking to rescue the Class of 2018 from the “graduation crisis” didn’t think to include time in fidget chairs as a possible pathway to a diploma? Sloppy.
- In related news, a Columbus-based group that includes Fordham board member Steve Dackin reported this week some progress in increasing the number of people in central Ohio with some education or training beyond high school. Good work folks; sorry to see that there’s a giant roadblock to your work coming down the pike. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/12/17)
- Also at the state board of ed meeting yesterday, members voted in favor of a resolution to support Ohio Teacher Evaluation System changes developed by the Educator Standards Board. (Gongwer Ohio, 4/11/17) The Dayton Daily News was interested in this topic too. Like the graduation standards changes, the next move will be in the General Assembly. Maybe that will happen via the state budget; maybe it will happen via a standalone bill later in the year. Either way, smells like sausage to me. (Dayton Daily News, 4/11/17)
- Back in the real world, the Akron school board voted this week to approve a “college and career academy master plan”. It is “a blueprint for implementing high school academies that will help ready students for entry into the workforce, the military or college upon graduation” which will affect the structure of all high schools in the district. (Akron Beacon Journal, 4/11/17) At the other end of the school age range, it was announced that the LeBron James Foundation will be helping to fund a new school in the district starting next year. It will be called “I PROMISE”, based on the afterschool program of that name already operating in the district, and will start with third and fourth graders (selected by lottery) with other grades to be added in future years. More details remain to be worked out but everyone seems very excited about this. I, for some reason, thought of Ben Stiller when reading this. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4/11/17)
- Stepping way out of the real world, a special meeting of the Youngstown school board was held on Monday to discuss and vote on structural changes that it was hoped would shorten the length of regular meetings. This special meeting lasted three hours. (Youngstown Vindicator, 4/10/17) At the regular meeting on Tuesday, the board followed those newly-approved rules – mostly – and got out in less than two. Substance was lacking, but the length of the meeting had nothing to do with it. (Youngstown Vindicator, 4/12/17)
- Finally, we have a national piece touting a largely harmonious and productive partnership between charter schools and the local school district in Cleveland. Well, if Eric Gordon says it’s happening, it must be happening. (The 74 Million blog, 4/10/17)
