Gadfly Bites 9/14/26—The calculus of asterisks

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1. Lots of schools and districts out there are apparently bracing for lower report card scores when data are officially released tomorrow. (They have seen preliminary info already) This coverage, featuring comments from our report card guru Aaron Churchill, focuses specifically on changes made to the Early Literacy Component which the state teachers union believes will serve to lower many a grade. And, since we learn that the change is from reporting “the percentage of students who were promoted from third to fourth grade” to reporting “only those who were actually eligible for promotion based on reading scores — excluding students who advanced despite not meeting proficiency”, you can see how that might change the calculus…for what some of us might call “the better”. (Cleveland.com, 9/14/26)
   
   

2. As we discussed last week, a number of charter and district schools will receive report cards with asterisks on some test-based data due to “anomalies” in their state test results, as determined by an Ohio Department of Education and Workforce review. Among these are all six of Steubenville City Schools’ buildings. You remember Steubenville, the small district in an impoverished part of the state that became an all-consuming cause célèbre of the national science of reading movement for its success in teaching its young students to read using old-school methods, tenacity, and common sense. Substacker Tim Daly is first out of the gate to use the “c word” in relation to Steubenville’s version of those anomalies—and then 2,000 more words to explain what the “c word” will mean to all of the Steubenville watchers worldwide if cheating is actually alleged…let alone proven. (Tim Daly Substack, 9/14/26) Even though we’re a long way from understanding what happened and how—not to mention what official repercussions might eventuate—just getting one’s name on the “anomalies” list for further investigation is already generating blowback. Another case in point: Focus Learning Academy here in Columbus. The Dispatch today rehashes a closed criminal case against one of the charter school’s leaders and points out that he is still at the helm despite his guilty plea and criminal conviction. The school’s sponsor is not breaking any laws by keeping him on, a spokesman says, explaining that the school is running pretty well these days and thus no leadership changes are currently under discussion. However, the piece also points out that Focus is now on DEW’s testing “anomalies” list, which could possibly change the calculus for the school’s governing authority. (Columbus Dispatch, 9/14/26)
   
   

3. Speaking of charter schools, here is that list of federal CSP grant funding awardees we were talking about last week. Congratulations to all the winners! (Dayton 24/7 Now News, 9/11/26) Here’s a quick look at the two awardees in northeast Ohio: FORWARD Girls Leadership Academy and Menlo Park Academy. Nice! (Signal Cleveland, 9/14/26)

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