- We’ll start today with a couple of out-of-left-field pieces which namecheck Fordham. First up, Mother Jones is talking about presidential candidate (and Ohio governor) John Kasich’s education record. Fordham’s reports on charter school quality in the Buckeye State from late 2014 are referenced. (Mother Jones, 8/24/15) The MJ piece isn’t listed as an opinion piece, although it probably ought to be. Meanwhile, the second charter school hit piece we’re looking at today is clearly marked as opinion. In it, a 16-month-old quote from Chad Aldis from the Columbus Dispatch is recycled. (Al-Jazeera America, 8/24/15)
- Back in the real world, Chad is quoted in this piece on what standardized testing will look like in Ohio in the post-PARCC era. (Port Clinton News Herald, 8/22/15) Also in other Gannett outlets.
- Here’s a couple more stories on the post-PARCC era, not quoting Chad. First up, Gongwer, which focuses on updates to the Ohio Department of Education’s website re: testing. Toledo City School’s chief academic officer is hopeful that this year’s testing protocols will go better than he says last year’s went. No clues as to who is responsible for making that hope a reality from reading this piece. (Toledo Blade, 8/24/15)
- Readers may recall a push in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to encourage kids to go school – to actually show up when school started. How did the “Get to School” message work? Last Monday was opening day at most schools and attendance was at 91.6 percent, up from 84.3 percent last year. On Tuesday, the first day that all the schools were open, attendance was at 91.2 percent, up from 88.3 last year. The goal for the district is 95 to 100 percent attendance, so they’ll have to keep up that “Get to School” message. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/21/15)
- School doesn’t start in most Columbus City Schools until later this week. Readers may recall that the district’s transportation system received some bad marks for its communications system earlier this year. The incoming communications upgrade touted over the summer is still in its pilot phase, but here is a story about a new and more proactive communications system which is supposed to provide real-time bus schedule info to district parents via text message, e-mail, and phone call. Wonder if it’s already in place for charter and private school students who started school earlier in August? Here’s hoping. (Columbus Dispatch 8/23/15)
- The Enquirer published tandem charter school opinion pieces over the weekend. First up, the editorial board responded to its Google calendar alert and opined on schedule about the need for charter law reform now. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/23/15). The attribution is a little weak on this one, but former Enquirer editor Sandy Theis – now ED of Progress Ohio – contributed this guest commentary which conflates journalism and opinion. (Cincinnati Enquirer, 8/23/15)
- Two further opinion pieces from this weekend. First up, Tom Suddes. The former PD columnist was in the Big D and other outlets with a slightly off-the-beaten-path opinion piece on charter law reform. (Columbus Dispatch, others, 8/23/15). Today, the Big D’s editorial board weighed in on the topic of the new three-person charter authorizer review panel. (Columbus Dispatch, 8/24/15)
- Finally, late-breaking news from last Friday: the Youngstown Board of Education and compatriots have filed that promised lawsuit to try and have the so-called “Youngstown Plan” overturned. Mainly on procedural grounds. Just-the-facts version is here. (Gongwer Ohio, 8/21/15). Local version is here. (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/22/15). The view from Cleveland – which has been living with a version of this plan for many years – is here. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/21/15)
