Ohio Gadfly Daily News 4-23-14
Jeff MurrayA bumper crop of education stories today from across Ohio and even the Wall Street Journal.
Ohio Gadfly Daily News 4-21-14
Jeff MurrayBack after a short spring break - education news and commentary from around Ohio
Attaining Equitable Distribution of Effective Teachers in Public Schools
Andrew McDonnellHigh-quality teachers are distributed across schools in patterns that resemble life in the desert, fleeing harsh terrain for soothing oases, fleeing poorer schools for more affluent.
Do Standard Measures of Preschool Quality Used in Statewide Policy Predict School Readiness?
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.The 2008 federal economic stimulus act invested $5 billion to support early-childhood programs, including $500 million for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, which pushes states and localities to participate in the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS).
Post tax-day fact: Ohio spends $20 billion on K-12 public education
Aaron ChurchillFor millions of Americans, yesterday was tax day. One of the major uses of those tax dollars is K-12 public education; in fact, Ohio spends approximately $20 billion per year on its public schools.
Indiana’s Potemkin Standards?
Kathleen Porter-MageeAs opposition to the Common Core State Standards has gained momentum in parts of the land, it’s important to ask what happens if a state changes its mind and renounces those standards—which, as we’ve long said, states have every right to
Cleveland: Work to do, but signs of hope
Chad L. AldisMuch work has been done to transform Cleveland schools, with much more still to be done. We take a look at progress so far.
Is the House adding uncertainty to value add?
Aaron ChurchillProposals to change Ohio's value-add calculation have passed the House and are moving on to the Senate; Aaron takes a look.
The Ohio Gadfly Daily News has arrived
Jeff MurrayOhio education news and Fordham commentary, just what the doctor ordered
The Icarus Syndrome: Why Do Some High Flyers Soar While Others Fall?
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Why do many high-achieving students struggle to sustain their academic performance over time? Eric Parsons, an economist at the University of Missouri, takes a crack at finding the answer—and unearths a paradox. In this study, he follows a single cohort of high-performing students in Missouri from grade 3 through grade 9 to see which school factors influence their academic success.
Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Jobs in Metropolitan America
This edited volume, courtesy of University of Pennsylvania education professor Laura Perna, addresses the widening gaps between the education qualifications of the population and the demands of the job market. Since a different analyst wrote each chapter, we are presented with a smorgasbord of data and recommendations.
Not So Modest: Pension Benefits for Full-Career State Government Employees
Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.Just how generous are public pension plans? In this AEI report, Andrew Biggs tabulates the benefits—including pension and Social Security benefits, but not including health care benefits—that an average, full-career, state employee who retired in 2011 or 2012 now receives and compares the total with the income of full-time, full-year employees in his state.
Spring is in the air and things are looking up
The Education GadflyGreat news: Kansas is cool again!
Ohio's billion dollar bonanza
Aaron ChurchillThe proposal of a few members of the state legislature to increase the transparency around charter schools is a fine idea. But their allegation that charters “waste” public funds—apparently without acknowledging the infirmity of Ohio’s urban districts—is shameful discourse that conceals the woeful facts about public schools in urban areas, where most charters reside.
4-7-14 Ohio Education News
Jeff MurrayDaily education stories of interest from news outlets across Ohio
The electorate's apathy toward school boards
Aaron ChurchillSchool boards matter. Indeed, in Fordham’s new report Do School Boards Matter? researchers found that knowledgeable, hard-working boards that prioritize student achievement govern higher-performing districts.
PISA 2012 Results: Creative Problem Solving
Brandon L. WrightIs a consolation prize better than no prize at all? That’s the question American educators might ponder with this week’s release of the PISA 2012 problem-solving-assessment results.
PISA 2012 Results: Creative Problem Solving
Is a consolation prize better than no prize at all? That’s the question American educators might ponder with this week’s release of the PISA 2012 problem-solving-assessment results.
Building a Better Teacher: How Teaching Works (and How to Teach It to Everyone)
Andrew McDonnellAuthor Elizabeth Green on what makes a great teacher—and great teaching.
A big win for the Big Apple’s charters
The Education GadflyGovernor Andrew Cuomo and embattled Mayor Bill de Blasio have reached a tentative deal.