- We start today with what could likely end up being News of the Moot. It is more coverage of Dayton City Schools’ busing plan for 2020-21. Just more coverage, mind you, not more clarity. (Dayton Daily News, 7/27/20) What we do know about this plan appears to indicate an even more robust disaster than previously promised, mainly because certain officials at the state and local level have come forward to kibosh some of its more fanciful initial proposals. The remainder is full of holes and more than 500 charter school parents and officials so far have signed a petition to stop the trainwreck before it starts. (Dayton 24/7 Now, 7/28/20) All of this could be moot, of course, if Dayton City Schools ends up converting to all-online classes for the fall…or longer. Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli indicated last night that the previously-announced hybrid plan would very likely change in the near future. Strange thought: What if the district goes online and some charters and private schools remain in-person? Could the district’s transportation system then be running for the exclusive use of those kids exercising choice? Wild! (Dayton Daily News, 7/29/20)
- Will they or won’t they (open up for in-person classes)? As we have noted here before, it is not necessary to wait until late August to find out the answer to that question. Several schools around the state utilize “balanced” (a.k.a. year-round) calendars and will be starting school any day now. Case in point: We learned on Monday that Woodcrest Elementary here in Columbus would be starting its school year this very week fully online, even though the district had at that time announced a staggered in-person schedule for K-8 students. (ABC6, Columbus, 7/27/20) The next day, the state’s largest district announced it would instead be fully on-line for at least the fall semester. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/28/20) Other central Ohio districts soon followed suit. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/29/20)
- It is to be hoped that those districts venturing once more unto the remote learning breach will have learned a ton about how not to do it based on their experiences this past spring. Today, we learned that those central Ohio districts in that boat are working on boosting the social emotional supports for students looking at more long weeks learning from home. (Columbus Dispatch, 7/29/20) The state is doing its part to help things run more smoothly in the cyberschoolhouse this time around, this week launching an effort to help schools and districts across the state get equal access to high-quality internet at the best possible price. (News5, Cleveland, 7/24/20)
- What’s the status of school choice in this time of uncertainty? Let’s check in on the news from Cleveland, home of the first district to go all-remote for the fall. Ohio’s two largest virtual schools (these are the OGs, folks, not to be confused with districts going virtual with amusing cyberschoolhouse names) are said to be experiencing a huge boost in inquiries and enrollment and are recruiting a slew of new teachers accordingly. (Cleveland 19 News, 7/28/20) The same Cleveland news outlet reports that ODE has noted a significant increase in the number of parents considering homeschooling this year, and they helpfully provide information to get other parents started down that road. If they want. (Cleveland 19 News, 7/28/20) Cleveland Magazine today published a timely feature covering choice deets (including some fascinating insider info and helpful links) on 33 private high schools and 96 private elementary and middle schools in Northeast Ohio. (Cleveland Magazine, 7/29/20)
- While we learned from Columbus City Schools Superintendent Talisa Dixon yesterday that “no decision has been made” regarding sports schedules in light of the district going all-remote in the fall, the Ohio High School Athletic Association did suspend scrimmages in four contact sports as of yesterday. As we noted on Monday, those are scheduled to end as usual on Friday anyway, with the actual “fall sports season” starting on August 1 (with all the rules and regulations thereto). Probably. Maybe. Stay tuned. (ThisWeek News, 7/28/20)
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