COMPILER’S NOTE: Gadfly Bites is back from its summer recess and resumes regular thrice-weekly publication today. First up, a recap of important news pieces published over the last ten days.
- We noted yesterday that the term “rampant uncertainty” is something of a misnomer in regard to charter schools in Ohio. There IS “rampant bad publicity” around charter schools, which isn’t new but is problematic, not only for charter school supporters but also charter haters. Case in point, this op-ed from the Toledo Blade, which must thread a fine needle in jumping on the bandwagon against charter schools (naturally) while reminding readers that some of the best schools out there are charter schools, including the Toledo School for the Arts. (Toledo Blade, 8/9/15).
- Same goes in Cleveland, where this op-ed pours together all of the charter school issues but comes out with a specific opinion against online schools, rather than against the charter sector writ large. Kudos for the Alice in Wonderland reference. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/16/15)
- The state board of education and state superintendent are targets of journalistic and editorial ire under a heading that can probably be called “rampant opportunism”, no needle-threading required. Governor (and presidential candidate) John Kasich’s reaction to the ire was to suggest changes to the structure and function of the state board. Kudos to the (still) Big D for the history lesson here. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/10/15) The current president of the state board aired his views on the board’s role in a public radio interview yesterday. He also put the current concerns about the board into historical context. (WYSO-FM, Yellow Springs, 8/18/15) Ditto for editors in Youngstown, who also invoked bipartisan history in opining that the state should investigate the possibility of making some changes to the board’s structure and the relationship between superintendent, board, and governor. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/16/15)
- While recent missteps by the Ohio Department of Education in regard to ratings of charter school authorizers seem to be the main accelerant in the media firestorm regarding the department (and others), lots of folks opposed to the so-called “Youngstown Plan” are adding it to the pyre as well. Not so the Vindy editors. They’re fine with an investigation into charter authorizer ratings – providing the state board is unanimous in wanting one – but they remain steadfast in their support of the Youngstown Plan – a form of “state takeover” for which they repeatedly begged over nearly a year – and opined as such. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/9/15) Editors in Youngstown also opined in support of a staffing audit of the city schools set to get underway soon, even before the new academic distress commission is seated. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/11/15)
- On the journalism front, reporter Denise Dick takes a look at another important aspect of the Youngstown Plan: starting next year, all students attending a Youngstown City Schools building will be eligible for an EdChoice voucher to attend private schools instead. No family income or school performance criteria required. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/10/15)
- Opponents of the Youngstown Plan are responding to each developing detail, like the above, with pretty much the same language. They feel that the new academic distress commission protocols leave out local decision makers, especially teachers, parents, and the current elected school board. However, the most vocal opponents seem to feel that the process by which the Youngstown Plan was developed and introduced in the legislature is their best bet for trying to undo the plan. Opponents of the plan last week released minutes from two April meetings of the “Youngstown Schools Business Cabinet”, obtained by information request. In them, state Superintendent Dick Ross stresses the need for confidentiality among the group as the plan is being developed. Cue the howling. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/12/15) Among the high-powered local leaders on the business cabinet is Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel. He spoke to a local TV station yesterday, responding to the allegations of “secret meetings” by pointing out that real secret meetings don’t keep minutes, let alone release them. He also stated how proud he was of the plan and its potential to turn around a long-languishing school district for the benefit of its students. (WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, 8/19/15) And now we’re right up to date as a group of Youngstown “activists” (aka the teacher’s union) today threatened a lawsuit against someone in regard to the process by which the Youngstown Plan was created and enacted. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/19/15)
- Before vacation, Gadfly Bites clipped two frustrating stories about school districts creating online/hybrid programs which could – if run well and marketed properly – provide important opportunities for school completion for students currently poorly served by the traditional school system. What was frustrating was the mean-spirited greediness which pervaded the interview subjects’ quotes (teachers and administrators responsible for the programs) and the journalism stemming from them. To wit: these programs were more about “keeping money in the districts” and out of the hands of charter schools than about providing said vitally-needed opportunities. So color me surprised when a third story about online/hybrid programs appeared – in Akron no less – and it was a positive antithesis of the previous two. Make no mistake, everyone involved with APS-Online would be thrilled to keep money and students currently being lost to online charter schools (and they say so here), but they also articulate a belief in the need for these alternatives for their students and speak clearly and thoughtfully about what the program can mean for those students. Very nice. Good luck to all involved. (Akron Beacon Journal, 8/11/15)
- Here is a nice in-depth piece on the panoply of school choice options in Ohio. While the journalism trends a little negative, the stories from parents and students seem overwhelmingly positive, especially those from online charter schools. Go figure. (Middletown Journal-News. 8/8/15)
- As illustrated by the previous two items, funding seems paramount in the minds of school leaders, while having lots of high-quality options seems paramount in the minds of parents/students. Keep that in mind as you read this piece, in which a few state legislators opine on how bad they think Governor Kasich’s budget was for school district funding and suggest ways in which the General Assembly might change the formula going forward. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/9/15) Wonder if those guys have read the latest report by Innovation Ohio, which includes a section entitled "Flat Funding Schools”? Oh, who am I kidding? Of course they have. (Gongwer Ohio, 8/10/15)
- Speaking of money, Governor Kasich’s budget also included $75 million in funding to schools (above the aforementioned formula) in the form of “success bonuses”. That is, financial rewards to schools for specific levels of achievement on four-year graduation rates third grade reading proficiency rates. There are opponents to this as well, not in terms of dollars but in terms of “fairness”. (Gongwer Ohio, 8/11/15)
- Speaking (one more time) of money and of “fairness”, here’s a story about Educational Service Centers. The intent of these countywide or multi-county entities was to create economies of scale through services shared among member districts. However, it seems that what was once the province of smaller, more rural districts is now being overrun by large urban districts – with big populations and big needs. Claims of “unfairness” to smaller districts are beginning to be heard. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/14/15)
