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Since 2005, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has published annual analyses of Ohio’s state report cards.
Titles and descriptions matter in school rating systems. One remembers with chagrin Ohio’s former “Continuous Improvement” rating that schools could receive even though their performance fell relative to the prior year. Mercifully, the state retired that rating (along with other descriptive labels) and has since moved to a more intuitive A–F system.
In the spirit of giving thanks, we offer you not the usual charter school related news clips this week but a look back at some of the things happening this year for which we as charter school supporters should be grateful.
In our 2019 annual report, we provide insight into our sponsorship work during the year and the performance of our sponsored schools. We are also pleased to highlight the good work of our colleagues on Fordham’s policy and research teams.
NOTE: Today the Ohio Report Card Study Committee heard testimony from a number of stakeholder groups on various aspects of the state’s school and district report cards. Fordham vice president Chad Aldis was invited to provide testimony. This is the written version his remarks.
“Confront the brutal facts (yet never lose faith)” – Jim Collins, Good to Great Cheerleading on schools and students is widespread in K–12 education. Go to a school district website and you’re bound to see something heralding an afterschool program, celebrating an arts initiative, or profiling the most recent teacher of the year.
Parents, when surveyed, routinely tell us that safety is one of their top priorities when choosing a school. Although what exactly constitutes a “safe” school likely varies, for many it means a place where children feel welcomed and accepted.
Ohio charters get the cold shoulder from lawmakers
Last year, NBA superstar LeBron James opened I Promise School (IPS), a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. In its first year (2018–19), IPS served 240 students in grades three and four.
Congratulations to Ohio’s high quality charter schools!
Author’s correction and update: The original version of this post incorrectly stated that Columbus had increased the minimum test score needed to be classified as “on track” in third-grade reading and to not be placed on a reading improvement and monitoring plan (RIMP).
Note: This is the fifth in a series of blog posts on school funding in Ohio; for the previous posts, see here,
The best charter school-related story you’ll read this week
Digging into charter school ratings across the state
School turnaround policy for Ohio districts, including Youngstown and Lorain, has attracted tremendous attention in recent months.
When Governor DeWine signed the state budget into law in mid-July, it marked the end of ye
Gallons of ink, some on this blog, have been spilled about what Ohio should do about academically troubled school districts.
The hottest topic of conversation in education circles these days is what the legislature plans to do with academic distress commissions (ADCs), the state’s method for intervening in persistently low-performing school district
Today, the Ohio Department of Education released annual report cards for Ohio’s 610 school districts and roughly 3,500 public schools. Based on data from the 2018-19 school year, report cards include a user-friendly, overall rating along with component ratings that provide additional context.
NOTE: Today the Ohio Senate’s Education Committee heard testimony on a substitute version of House Bill 154, addressing
When President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law back in December 2015, it marke
