Gadfly Bites 2/26/21 – What we set out to do
Jeff MurrayHere’s a bit more coverage of Chad’s testimony—and that of Ohio Excels’ Lisa Gray—given this week in support of conducting testing this sp
Gadfly Bites 2/24/21 – Fire up the Scantron, y’all!
In case you missed it, late on Monday the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would not be offering testing waivers to states for this school year.
Testimony presented before the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee on HB 67
Chad L. AldisNOTE: On Tuesday, February 23, 2021, members of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 67 which would seek to waive testing in Ohio’s schools for the 2020–21 school year.
State lawmakers take another crack at cancelling state tests
Jessica PoinerLast spring, Governor DeWine signed legislation that eliminated state tests and paused school accountability sanctions for the 2019–20 school year. Efforts by the education establishment to extend these changes through the 2020–21 school year began almost immediately.
Gadfly Bites 2/22/21 – Dramarama
Jeff MurrayThe headline of this piece on Dayton area school reopenings grabbed my attention the moment I saw it.
Gadfly Bites 2/19/21 – “Let’s be real about this.”
Jeff MurrayFordham’s Chad Aldis appeared on the redefinED podcast with host Matt Ladner, talking about the state of interdistrict open enrollment in the Buckeye S
A reply to the anti-testers
Aaron ChurchillUnder pressure from the school establishment and teachers unions, Ohio lawmakers recently filed bills that seek to cancel state assessments this spring.
Gadfly Bites 2/17/21 – News from central Ohio’s bougie burbs
Jeff MurrayWe start today in one of the bougiest of central Ohio’s bougie burbs: New Albany-Plain Local Schools.
Academic effects of shortened school weeks on student achievement
Jeff MurrayIn a time when the “traditional” K–12 educational experience is going through upheaval and reconfiguration into myriad pandemic-influenced shapes and sizes, it is important to note that many of the so-called innovations students are experiencing are not new. Sudden shutdowns of school buildings?
Gadfly Bites 2/15/21 – Oh, excuse me, sir. Just one more thing…
Jeff MurrayIn case you missed it, Governor DeWine reappeared before the press—Columbo-style—just as everyone was heading out for the weekend late on Friday.
Districts should use student wellness funds to track down and support Covid’s missing students
Jessica PoinerIt’s no secret that the pandemic has been extraordinarily difficult on education. Reopening decisions, complex in-person safety protocols, virtual school, and the specter of learning loss have made the past year tough.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 2.12.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayThe opportunity for a better life
Gadfly Bites 2/12/21 – Making up time
Jeff MurrayThere may be eight inches of snow on the ground here, but our Chad Aldis was on the radio this week talking about summer school.
Governor DeWine is right: Ohio must not fail its students
Jessica PoinerAt this point, it’s common knowledge that Covid-related school closures are having a major impact on students. Absenteeism rates are high.
Public schools should be open to all
Aaron ChurchillInterdistrict open enrollment, one of the longest running and most popular forms of school choice, unlocks public school options for more than 80,000 Ohio students. It allows children to attend school in a district other than the one they live in.
Gadfly Bites 2/8/21 – Rays of light?
Jeff MurrayAs we noted on Friday, someone was bound to come along with more detail on the Ohio student enrollment data released la
Ohio’s fall tests reveal how the pandemic has affected student learning
Vladimir Kogan, Stéphane LavertuNOTE: 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.
Kiss, marry, kill: Education policy edition
Jessica PoinerBudget season in Ohio is always fraught, but factor in the pandemic and accompanying economic downturn and we can be sure that the next few months will be even more heated than usual. Ohioans should expect plenty of education-related proposals in the mix.
Gadfly Bites 2/5/21 – Not remotely working
Jeff MurrayI am certain that someone with a bit more knowledge will dig into these data a little more soon—you know, someone who at least knows that charter schools are public schools—but
DeWine budget strengthens key K–12 education initiatives
Aaron ChurchillEarlier this week, Governor Mike DeWine unveiled his state budget for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Gadfly Bites 2/3/21 – “A lot of work to do” is probably an understatement
Jeff MurrayAaron Churchill’s recent op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch—in support of state testing this year—drew
Has Ohio public school enrollment declined amid the pandemic?
Aaron ChurchillA slew of news
Gadfly Bites 2/1/21 – Indispensable
Jeff MurrayWe’ll lead with the big stuff. Editors in Columbus opined strongly in favor of conducting state testing in schools this spring.