Ohio Charter News Weekly – 4.30.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayBest high schools in America
Ohio needs to think bigger, bolder on charter facilities
Aaron ChurchillExcelinEd, a national education group, recently released a paper revealing large shortfalls in facility funding for Ohio’s public charter schools.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 4.23.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayCharter facilities in Ohio
School attendance boundaries: A thing of the past?
Historically, children have been assigned to public schools based on their home address. For some students, this works out fine. But for many others, geographic assignment locks them into schools that don’t meet their needs. What can be done to break the link between students’ zip codes and their school?
A fairness gap in Ohio and how it might be closed
Sam Duell, Matthew JosephNOTE: 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.
How can Ohio meet charter school facility needs?
Brick-and-mortar charter schools serve more than 80,000 Ohio students, most of whom come from low-income backgrounds.
The EdChoice lawsuit is déjà vu all over again
Aaron ChurchillOver the past year, media outlet
Here’s what i-Ready winter diagnostic assessments reveal about unfinished learning
Jessica PoinerAlthough most schools have returned to some semblance of in-person learning for families who want it, education researchers and analysts are still working to gauge the impact of extended school closures.
The Ohio Senate does report card reform right
Aaron ChurchillAnnual school report cards play an important role in healthy, accountable K–12 education systems.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 3.26.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayToledo transportation changes move forward
House report card bill deserves an F
Aaron ChurchillFor more than two decades, report cards have offered Ohioans an annual check on the quality of public schools. They have strived to ensure that schools maintain high expectations for all students, to provide parents with a clear signal when standards are not being met, and to identify high-performing schools whose practices are worth emulating.
Testimony presented before the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee on HB 67
Chad L. AldisNOTE: On March 16, 2021, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on HB 67, a bill which would, among other provisions, make changes to the state’s graduation requirements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Reducing cheating on online exams
Jeff MurrayConcerns over the increased potential for cheating are front and center in debates
Using course grades for graduation doesn’t advance equity or excellence
Aaron ChurchillLast week, the Ohio House passed legislation (HB 67) that addressed graduation requirements and a few other issues in K–12 education.
Budget bill tackles transportation for choice students
Jessica PoinerThe relationship between traditional public schools and schools of choice—both charter and private—is often strained in Ohio. One of the most consistent sources of tension is transportation.
Four ways to make charter schools a priority in the state budget
Aaron ChurchillIt’s state budget time in Ohio, and as experts like to remind us, budgets reflect priorities. In the area of K–12 education, legislators should maintain a focus on empowering parents to take more control of their kids’ education and improving the educational outcomes of less advantaged students.
All students should have the option of daily in-person instruction
Aaron Churchill , Chad L. AldisWith Covid-19 cases dropping, teachers getting vaccinated, and new data and guidance coming in all the time showing th
Budget proposal unwisely lowers the graduation bar in science and social studies
Jessica PoinerLast week, the Ohio House unveiled House Bill 110, the legislative vehicle for Governor DeWine’s budget proposal.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 2.26.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayState testing to happen on schedule
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.
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.