- The Dayton Daily News announced this week – with something akin to relief, or maybe glee? – that there are no changes to Ohio’s testing regimen for the first time in three years. Not for lack of trying, I’m sure. (Dayton Daily News, 4/4/17) I jest, of course. Obviously there were plenty of efforts to change things in regard to testing this year; just like there was when everyone and their brother ganged up to retire the OGT and to nuke the PARCC tests in previous years. And the efforts continue unabated. To wit: the state supe’s panel on assessments. This piece is ostensibly a look at one panel member – the director of CTE at a local high school – and what he plans to bring to the table. What is more interesting to me is the full list of panelists and the organizations or groups that each person represents (hint: none of them appear to be representing students or parents). A “stacked” panel, indeed, Aaron. (Canton Repository, 4/4/17) Like the Dispatch editorial board before it, editors in Toledo opined today in favor of a diploma that is more than a certificate for showing up 93 percent of the time. And, yes, that appears to mean taking and passing tests. (Toledo Blade, 4/5/17)
- Ahead of Governor Kasich’s State of the State address in Sandusky last night, several members of state government were traversing the state before heading to the lakeshore for the festivities. Here is some coverage of a visit to Stark County school districts by state superintendent Paolo DeMaria and state school board member Nancy Hollister earlier this week. It’s an interesting piece and the two honchos certainly appear to have gotten a valuable earful from the students they spoke with. However, I await with bated breath coverage of their visits to charter schools or standalone STEM schools in Stark County and elsewhere. (Canton Repository, 4/3/17)
- While I wait in hope for those stories on honcho sightings at charter or STEM schools, I will content myself with this detailed profile – also by the Rep’s Kelli Weir – of two teenagers who were initially homeschooled but have attended an online charter school for the last nine years. (No, not that one; another one.) One sibling is 18 and about to graduate; the other is 16 with a couple years left. Both seem pretty awesome, disciplined, and smart as whips. Both are currently taking college courses via the state’s College Credit Plus program. Haters, I defy you. (Canton Repository, 4/3/17)
- Speaking of defying the naysayers, the awesome Graham family of charter schools in Columbus is on the grow after having this week purchased two surplus school buildings from Columbus City Schools. Congrats! (Columbus Dispatch, 4/5/17)
- And then there’s this: quadruplets from Lakota East High School in tiny Liberty Township, Ohio, have all four been accepted by both Harvard and Yale for college next year. Where they will all go is yet to be decided, but huge kudos, congrats, salutations, and felicitations to them all! (Washington Post, 4/5/17)
