Gadfly Bites 9/18/26—Professor Kogan says: Always read the appendixes

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1. More report card analysis today, focusing generally on big picture stats including chronic absenteeism. Coverage includes our own Aaron Churchill’s downbeat assessment that “At its current rate of improvement, Ohio will return to pre-pandemic chronic absenteeism rates sometime during the 2030s.” Yowza. The OCJ also highlights a couple of below-the-line stats, including numbers of students experiencing homelessness and numbers of students using voucher programs in various districts. (Ohio Capital Journal, 9/17/26) This piece is specific to Cincinnati City Schools, whose overall district grade jumped from 2.5 to 3 stars this year. Aaron is on hand to remind us, however, that there are numerous components to the overall rating and that many of the district’s stats still lag pre-pandemic numbers. (Spectrum News 1, Ohio, 9/17/26)
   
   

2. This Dayton Daily News coverage focuses on literacy gains and science of reading implementation statewide. Once again, Aaron’s (and everyone else’s) message is the same: Progress is good; but getting back to pre-pandemic levels is still a long way away. (Dayton Daily News, 9/18/26) Here’s a more detailed look at the same topic, courtesy of Patrick O’Donnell at The 74. Despite everyone’s positive assessment of progress made so far using science of reading in Ohio (“I think [the progress] is real,” says Elyria-based literacy specialist Andrea McKenzie. “We’re not seeing a setback… It’s really sticking in fourth grade right now too.” How nice.), O’Donnell writes that “there are still reasons to be unsure if the science of reading shift is bringing sustainable results.” Specifically, he points to the increase in the number of third graders scoring as “limited”, the state’s lowest rating, in proficiency this year. Luckily for him and all other SoR skeptics, Aaron has just the fix for that little issue locked and loaded: bring back mandatory retention. (The 74, 9/18/26)
   
   

3. OSU prof and Fordham senior research fellow Vlad Kogan is back on the opinion pages of the Dispatch this morning, issuing a crushing demolition of the latest upbeat report on (and media coverage of) the impact of the Columbus Promise community college scholarship program. “Hasn’t he already done this before, and thoroughly so?” I hear all 11 of my loyal Gadfly Bites subscribers asking. (Why yes, we have had a small uptick in subscribers recently. Thank you for noticing!) He has indeed, but this go-round is extra devastating because he doesn’t even have to use his own words to do it. The sunny optimism being reported is belied by the researchers’ own findings…even if the truth is buried deep in Appendix F. (Columbus Dispatch, 9/18/26)
   
   

4. Here’s a look at the Cleveland-Browns-owning Haslam family—recently ranked as the 33rd-richest family in America by Forbes—and their extensive philanthropic contributions to K-12 education in Ohio and beyond. These include support for the Breakthrough Network of charter schools, the statewide Stay in the Game student attendance initiative, and (delightful news to me) my beloved Metro STEM schools here in Columbus. (Signal Cleveland, 9/14/26)
    
5. Speaking of school choice (were we…?), here’s a national story about voucher programs for students with disabilities with a key Ohio focus. It’s ultimately even-handed, I would say, although the reportage leans negative/anti-voucher to my ears. But things even out, I think, when you look at the important details provided by the two profiled families. As I saw it, they dealt with lots of changes in services—and service needs—for their children over several years. That is typical of school choice generally in my experience, and probably even more so for students with special needs. The parents were able to find multiple schools/settings/services for their children via public and private schools—even if no single setting or set of services worked all the time. And while they received information and support (and, most critically, had access to more than just one educational option thanks to vouchers—hallelujah) along the way, they could clearly have used even more of both. And indeed I can almost guarantee they will need still more information and support going forward, because my professional and personal experience indicates that where these families are at the end of this profile piece—acceptable school placement or not at that moment—will not be working the same way in two or three years from now. The school choice journey is hardly ever one-and-done, and that’s a positive lesson to take from this piece….even if it’s not the lesson intended. (Hechinger, 9/14/26)

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