LeBron’s I Promise School isn’t a charter, but it puts kids first—and that’s all that matters
Jessica PoinerYou’ve probably heard by now that basketball superstar LeBron James opened a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Called I Promise School (IPS), it’s a joint effort between the I Promise Network, the LeBron James Family Foundation, and Akron Public Schools.
Ohio’s dual credit landscape: A primer
Jessica PoinerWith college tuition at an all-time high, Ohio families are increasingly interested in finding ways to save on costs. Dual credit is a promising solution because if offers students the chance to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Ohio has a plethora of dual-credit options, but some are better known to families than others. Here is a quick overview of the offerings.
Innovation Ohio’s half truths about ECOT and school funding
Aaron ChurchillOver the past month, local newspapers across Ohio have blasted headlines such as “Local schools lost millions to ECOT” and “Study: Now-defunct ECOT siphoned $2.6 million from
Big changes are coming for Ohio’s dropout prevention and recovery schools
Jessica PoinerState report cards are a hot topic in Ohio, but most of the attention has been focused on the system used for traditional district and charter schools. Many Ohioans are unaware that state law requires the State Board of Education to have a separate report card system for dropout prevention and recovery charter schools (DPRS).
How did Ohio’s urban charters stack up on report cards?
Aaron ChurchillLast week, the Ohio Department of Education released school grades for the 2016-17 school year. These report cards offer Buckeye families, community members, and taxpayers an important annual review of the performance of the state’s 3,000 plus schools and 600 districts.
Gadfly Bites 9/8/17 - Paging Dr. Hardy! Paging Dr. Hardy!
Jeff MurrayNot much to report on today, but let’s not let that get us down. First up, we’ve got a bit more insight into that “final offer” from the Columbus City Schools board to the teacher’s union.
Quality education should know no borders
Jessica PoinerDespite their pronouncements to the contrary, many of Ohio’s affluent suburban school districts are about as “public” as a gated community. That’s the right conclusion to draw from a series of recent events.
Education savings accounts: The future of school choice in Ohio
NOTE: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute occasionally publishes guest commentaries on its blogs. The views expressed by guest authors do not necessarily reflect those of Fordham.
Text of testimony given before the Senate Education Committee 4/25/17
Chad L. AldisNOTE: The Education Committee of the Ohio Senate last week heard testimony on SB 85, a proposal that would expand Ohio’s private school voucher program. Fordham’s Chad Aldis was a witness at this hearing and these are his written remarks.
Gadfly Bites 4/26/17 - Chad Aldis vs. The "Naked" Beast
Jeff MurrayIn case you missed it this week, Ohio’s own pale, skinny version of the Loch Ness Monster resurfaced on the shores of the Scioto River, to take a context-free and factually-deficient lunge against charter schools, jaws a-slavering.
Text of testimony given before the Senate Education Committee 4/5/17
Chad L. AldisNOTE: The Senate Education Committee of the Ohio General Assembly is hearing proponent testimony this week on Senate Bill 85, a proposal that would significantly alter Ohio’s voucher programs. Below is the written testimony that Chad Aldis gave before the committee today.
Gadfly Bites 4/5/17 - The defiance edition
Jeff MurrayThe Dayton Daily News announced this week – with something akin to relief, or maybe glee? – that there are no changes to Ohio’s testing regimen for the first time in three years. Not for lack of trying, I’m sure.
Gadfly Bites 3/27/17 - Feeling nettled about school choice
Jeff MurrayAt the risk of diluting the cool factor of my kids’ current favorite word, reporter Patrick O’Donnell appears to be “nettled” over the possible expansion of private school vouchers in Ohio.
You’re invited to a panel discussion on the facilities challenges facing Ohio charter schools
Ohio Education GadflyOhio charter schools have long reported struggling in their efforts to secure school facilities.
Fordham Institute media statement on Ohio charter sponsor evaluations
Ohio Education GadflyOhio Charter Accountability Takes Big Leap Forward with First Sponsor Evaluation Ratings
Fordham Institute congratulates winners of Ohio’s $25 million competitive grant for charter school facilities
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission announced eight winners in the state’s inaugural round of funding to charter schools to purchase, construct, or renovate classroom facilities.
The Sharpton-Moskowitz alliance
Kevin MahnkenNow that New York’s students are heading into another year of Common Core-aligned standardized testing, it’s probably time to start taking bets on exactly how many kids will actually show up.
The Proper Perspective: An honest exchange about Ohio’s Charter School Program grant
Do Ohio's quality charter schools deserve expansion funding?
Accelerate Great Schools announces its first grants
Jessica PoinerGreat news for Queen City parents and students
Unsafe harbor: How to ensure Ohio’s testing transitions don’t sink the state’s voucher students
Jessica Poiner, Chad L. AldisIt's time to unshackle voucher eligibility
2015 State Teacher Policy Yearbook: Ohio
Jessica PoinerHow Ohio fared in this year’s review
Text of testimony given before the Ohio Board of Education 12/14/15
Chad L. AldisWritten remarks
Ohio’s charter school closure law is becoming irrelevant, and that’s a good thing
Jamie Davies O'LearyNew reforms should be more effective at closing bad schools
Text of testimony given before the Ohio Board of Education 10/19/15
Chad L. AldisPublic remarks
Past Ohio CSP winners have delivered results, future winners can do the same
Jamie Davies O'LearyA look back at the federal Charter School Program in the Buckeye State
Charter leaders making a difference in Columbus
Jamie Davies O'LearyImproving the lives of their students and their city
Choice, Information, and Constrained Options: School Transfers in a Stratified Educational System
Jeff MurrayRevisiting a 1996 accountability effort in Chicago
Progress and problems: Checking in on the Cleveland Plan
Jessica PoinerA reality check amid signs of true progress