With Ohio facing worsening budget problems and headed into election season, it's worth reflecting on what's happened since last summer's controversial budget battle, which installed a new school funding system (via HB 1), attempted to incapacitate charter schools, and put ?21st century skills? in the limelight. ?This week's Ohio Gadfly reminds us what's happened over the year, both good and bad. For one, even the governor and leading Dems are admitting the severity of the budget cliff facing the Buckeye State and are looking for cost-saving alternatives (perhaps a little too late, but still good news). The state also should be proud for its recent decision to adopt Common Core math and ELA standards, for making changes to the state's value-added system, and lightening up a bit on charter schools. And while HB 1 failed to overhaul teacher personnel policies, recent pushes coming out of places like Cincinnati and Cleveland inspire hope that this once-sacrosanct set of policies will be up for debate soon.
Next, Gadfly weighs in on Ohio's decision to adopt Common Core standards ? the seventh state to do so. Now that the Buckeye State has moved past the initial controversy over common standards ? Are they better? Should we adopt them?, etc.?next steps are just as important. Translating rigorous standards into improved student achievement requires that several things, like ownership over results and accountability, be in place.
For more on accountability, check out the recent changes Ohio made it is academic rating system for districts and schools. A new provision will safeguard otherwise high-performing districts from falling to a ?C? when they fail to make AYP with particular student subgroups over several years. The provision may sound a bit convoluted, but its implications are significant.
On tap for reviews: the latest on teacher policies from Public Impact, Public Agenda's survey showing that Americans have somewhat contradictory views when it comes to math and science education, and CRPE's latest report detailing multiple pathways to graduation. As always, check out Editor's Extras for random tidbits you may have missed this week, news about a Fordham-sponsored school leader winning a prestigious award, and a link to Terry and Kathryn's testimony regarding charter school accountability to the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Primary & Secondary Education, in case you missed it.
?OhioFlypaper