Like Connecticut and California, Ohio has mistakenly blamed its lack of stakeholder support for its loss in the first round of RTT.
As a result, the state has decided not to significantly change the substance of its application, but it is going to promise participating districts more money. This, it hopes, will entice more districts and unions to sign on.
This is clearly a losing strategy. For example, OH lost only 6 points in section A(1)(ii), "securing LEA commitment." It received 39 of 45 possible points.
But it lost 35 points in the section on teachers and principals, coming in next-to-last place among finalists. It also lost significant points in the data systems, failing schools, and charter schools sections.
If Ohio wants to win, it needs to get bold not buy the support of more districts.
--Andy Smarick