3 things to like (and 3 not to like) about Ohio’s education deregulation bill
Aaron ChurchillScrapping regulations that burden schools, have little to do with student learning, and restrict local flexibility and autonomy is a worthy undertaking. Over the past few years, Ohio legislators have taken small but commendable steps in providing regulatory relief for public schools.
Gadfly Bites 4/4/18 - Yay and yawn
Jeff MurrayHerewith: the new leader (and the revamped mission) of FutureReady Columbus. (Columbus Monthly, 4/2/18)
Reflections on the K-12 education policy world (and goodbye)
Jamie Davies O'LearyLike any life transition, preparing for a new job and saying farewell to colleagues and allies offers a bittersweet window of time to reflect. I’m sitting in that window now. Having finished almost a decade in the Ohio K–12 education policy space and my second stint at Fordham Ohio, I’m shifting into the early childhood policy domain.
Gadfly Bites 4/2/18 - No foolin'
Jeff MurrayI believe there is a headline error in this piece looking at the precarious state of play in Trotwood Schools after several years of poor report cards and attempts to remedy that problem. See if you can spot it. (Dayton Daily News, 4/2/18)
Gadfly Bites 3/30/18 - Advanced brain drain
Jeff MurrayIt’s spring break in Dayton City Schools, but that doesn’t mean things are quiet in the district.
Gadfly Bites 3/28/18 - Candor
Jeff MurrayWell, well, well. Nothing official here, but it is nice to hear the President of the Ohio Senate say that Ohio’s current participation-trophy graduation requirements should not be extended to the Classes of 2019 and 2020. Without “a good reason”, that is. (Gongwer Ohio, 3/26/18)
Ohio shouldn’t walk back new equity measures for students
Madison YoderOhio’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan doesn’t include many changes to the state’s current accountability system, but it does make some meaningful adjustments that improve equity within the state.
Gadfly Bites 3/26/18 – Yeah, what he said
Jeff MurrayThe bill which proposes, among other things, a consolidation of Ohio’s K-12, higher ed, and workforce development governance structures was the topic of dueling op-eds in the Dispatch this weekend. Fordham’s Aaron Churchill provided the case in support of the proposal.
Gadfly Bites 3/23/18 - Like night and day
Jeff MurrayThe bill which proposes to, among other things, consolidate the state’s K-12, higher ed, and workforce development governance apparatus is still the talk of the state for some reason. Lots of folks in Northeast Ohio are opposed for some reason.
Gadfly Bites 3/21/18 - “Dealing With This Thing Called College”
Jeff MurrayThe General Assembly’s Joint Education Oversight Committee is back in action this week (!) after a three month hiatus. This week’s meeting under a new chair will reevaluate priorities and sound out some issues to pursue for the future. Hope they can think of some good ones.
Creating an early graduation scholarship for high-achieving students
Aaron ChurchillOhio policymakers are currently wrestling with a slew of issues related to transitions from high school to college or career.
Gadfly Bites 3/19/18 - What's that in the wood chipper?
Jeff MurrayIt was learned late last week that Youngstown CEO Krish Mohip is not only looking to Colorado for a new gig but also to North Dakota. He is one of four finalists for superintendent of Fargo Public Schools. Weren’t there any good gigs up for grabs in Alaska, dude?
Gadfly Bites 3/14/18 - Curious choices
Jeff MurrayCOMPILER'S NOTE: Gadfly Bites is taking a break until Monday. See you next week.
Gadfly Bites 3/12/18 - Distress
Jeff MurrayEditors in Youngstown opined this weekend on the seeming chaos wrought by the resignations of 3/5 of the Academic Distress Commission in the last week.
Addressing language acquisition issues for bilingual children
Jeff MurrayDespite genetic hardwiring of babies’ brains to learn language, emerging evidence suggests that different languages are acquired in different ways based on their specific characteristics. Most of what child development and education professionals know about language acquisition in young children is based on monolingual studies and is difficult to apply to bilingual children.
Ohio’s capital budget pays for stadiums and barns, but not charter schools
Aaron ChurchillOhio legislators recently unveiled a $2.6 billion capital budget bill for fiscal years 2019 and 2020. Inside this year’s iteration are routine items like park and correctional facilities maintenance.
Gadfly Bites 3/9/18 - As you may recall...
Jeff MurrayIn case you missed it, the House Bill that proposes to consolidate state oversight of pre-K, K-12, and workforce development into one agency had a hearing earlier this week. Fordham’s own Chad Aldis was on hand to provide testimony in support of the bill.
Gadfly Bites 3/5/18 - The “full range” indeed
Jeff MurrayA new statewide online school is launching in Ohio next school year. Great news for families looking for a choice. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/2/18)
Gadfly Bites 3/2/18 - Repent!
Jeff MurrayAnd then there was one. The current superintendent of Akron City Schools let it be known earlier this week that he was removing himself from consideration to become the next superintendent of Columbus City Schools. But thanks for the consideration.
Moving Ohio towards a more coherent K–16 governance model
Aaron ChurchillTwo weeks ago, several lawmakers introduced legislation that proposes a major restructuring of education governance in Ohio.
Gadfly Bites 2/28/18 - “Our job is not to be generic.”
Jeff MurrayEditors in Toledo opined in favor of the proposed change in state-level education governance in Ohio. In principle, at least.
Gadfly Bites 2/26/18 - Small town issues
Jeff MurrayIt may or may not surprise you to know that not many school districts in Ohio have a diversity plan when it comes to hiring. Small town Mansfield is not one of those districts.
Gadfly Bites 2/23/18 - "Truly a perfect pairing."
Jeff MurrayEditors in Columbus this week opined – using Fordham as a prominent piece of evidence – in favor of strong and substantive graduation requirements. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/22/18)