- Fordham’s Aaron Churchill gives Cleveland.com a history lesson in this piece, explaining how school funding has changed, and how subsequent court rulings have played out, since the DeRolph case was concluded 10,000 years ago. (Cleveland.com, 4/6/21) Speaking of celebs, some soccer guy has some thoughts on school funding in Ohio too, but I’ll be darned if I can figure out his “pitch on a hillside” metaphor. Anyone? (Columbus Dispatch, 4/6/21) Pele Junior namechecks the Ohio Education Association in his commentary, but school funding is not all the state teachers union cares about. They are sponsoring a map-drawing contest for the state’s new congressional districts. It is open to union members and students (especially students, based on the quotes, who I am sure are being exhorted to participate) and there’s even a helpful tool all set up for entrants to use. Well of course there is. As long as no one plays politics with this stuff… (Logan Daily News, 4/6/21) Now I don’t pay much attention to this sort of stuff, but I had heard that there was some kind of serious data lag that may slow down the actual map makers in state government. But I’m hopeful that the creation of the award-winning District McDistrictface will not be affected by it.
- Here’s a look at some more of those “pandemic remediation plans” submitted by schools around the state. As you peruse, remember that Governor DeWine said, “We must be bold in our ideas”. You decide if these fit the bill. Akron City Schools’ plan is here. (News5, Cleveland, 4/6/21) Miami Valley districts are discussed here, including Northmont City Schools and Yellow Springs Exempted Village Schools. (Dayton 24/7 Now, 4/6/21) Several northwest Ohio districts are enumerated here, including Findlay City and Arcadia Local Schools. (Findlay Courier, 4/7/21)
- Meanwhile, state testing is getting underway in some Dayton area school districts. Seems pretty calm, orderly, and non-controversial based on the information provided by districts. Despite efforts to make them one or more of those things. (Dayton Daily News, 4/7/21)
- Cincinnati City Schools are looking forward to next school year already. The elected board voted this week to authorize the offering of fully in-person, fully-remote, and hybrid learning models for 2021-22. Details—lots of them—TBD. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 4/5/21) Perrysburg City Schools would love to offer their current fully-remote learning model again next year, but the superintendent says state law is a “roadblock” to doing so. We have discussed this here before: he means that the asynchronous, third-party provider version of remote learning the district has been using during the pandemic cannot continue next year unless legislators allow it. (Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune, 4/6/21)
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