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- Kudos to the Dispatch for being the first major media outlet in the state to cover the very encouraging findings of an analysis of the postsecondary outcomes for EdChoice Scholarship recipients. And indeed the coverage is as positive as the findings, so that when the inevitable “however…” does pop up, it only serves to amplify the demonstrated favorable impact of vouchers. As in: “However, the program was expanded into a universal one…”. Umm…yay! (Columbus Dispatch, 4/25/25) But, for the record, the good folks at Gongwer were first to note the report’s release—briefly—in yesterday’s Education Notes column. (Gongwer Ohio, 4/24/25)
- If only the elected board members running Oberlin City Schools had been able to hear the good news about EdChoice sooner, perhaps they would not have voted to waste their state dollars to join the lawsuit against the state to shut down all the voucher programs in the state…as they did Tuesday night. Oh well. It’s just money, right? If the voucher grouchers weren’t around, I’m sure there would be another drain for them to flush it down. (Chronicle Telegram, 4/25/25) More importantly, I learned from Axios Columbus mere hours ago that there is a hearing on this matter scheduled next week. Who knew?! The Honorable Judge Jaiza Page (Columbus School for Girls Class of ’02) presiding. Unicorns 4 Ever! (Axios Columbus, 4/25/25)
- This is a decent-enough story about a Hiring Fair for high school students in Toledo. Few of the employers I recognize are likely offering living wage jobs to any of them, but the handful of kiddos interviewed seem pretty happy about the opportunities being proffered by the various companies. And in that spirit, here are three humble suggestions from me to make it better: A) Open the event to charter, STEM, and private school students for the love of Pete—it’s not 1999 anymore. B) Reduce Toledo City Schools’ participation to a single recruiting booth—they don’t own the Glass City job market. C) Put their booth in the corner. By the bathroom. Under a burned-out (or flickering; I’m not picky) light fixture. (Toledo Blade, 4/23/25) Sorry to hit you with a press release to end the week, but I Know You Can handle it. I Decided to include it today because I Think it resonates with our Toledo piece above. The press release is touting the successes of the longstanding I Know I Can organization here in Columbus. It has always excluded non-Columbus City Schools students in its effort to help kids get into and through community college but, a) that fact never seemed to dawn on them before now, and b) I Believe they may be starting to see the light. To wit: “Looking ahead,” the release says, “program leaders want to expand to other districts or partners. ‘The evolution of the program is building a sustainable long-term success pipeline, empowering more students to strengthen their impact within the region’,” says the org’s Program Director. Right now, I Want to believe they would accept a charter school partner should one come forward. (Hey y’all!) They Know They Should reach out to more students; They Know They Could embrace charter/STEM/private schoolers; but still I Fear They Won’t even if their phone rings. (Columbus Underground, 4/25/25)
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