- It’s a bit harder to be optimistic today than it was yesterday, since Reynoldsburg Schools has filed an unfair-labor complaint against the local teachers union. It may be tit-for-tat, but will that really help reach a successful conclusion to negotiations? (Columbus Dispatch)
- On a brighter note, first round Straight A Funds are already hard at work in 27 districts in Appalachia, providing additional paths to dual enrollment and college credit for high schoolers. (Gongwer Ohio)
- State Superintendent Dick Ross speaks highly of the Straight A Fund in the article above and of the innovation it is fostering in schools across Ohio. Yesterday, Superintendent Ross was in Toledo to tout the early promise shown by the Third Grade Reading Guarantee as well, especially in combatting dropout. (Toledo Blade)
- Why yes, there is a statewide race for auditor going on in Ohio. Why do you ask? Probably because the two campaigns traded barbs over funding for charter schools yesterday. (Youngstown Vindicator)
- Speaking of politics and Youngstown, editors at the Vindy opine on the new legislative assault on Ohio’s New Learning Standards and mince no words. The effort is “fueled by politics” and HB597 should “die on the legislative vine”. Yowza. (Youngstown Vindicator)
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s student enrollment is down from the previous year, but by less than officials predicted. That’s likely good news, but definitely troubling is the fact that only 87% of students registered have so far showed up for class. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- So, apparently pediatricians say kids aren’t getting enough sleep and some folks insist that the answer is to start school later in the day. Another answer is of course to have kids go to bed earlier, but critics say that schools don’t have any control over that. How about mandating that all extracurriculars are over by 5:00 pm, even on Fridays? How about transportation systems that don’t require 90 minutes on a bus? How about requiring homework time along with all extracurriculars? How about after-school exercise/homework combos instead of football? Early start is one answer, but not the only one. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
