Gadfly Bites 10/8/21—Finger pointing
Jeff MurrayIn case you missed it, Wednesday’s press conference on House Bill 290 has been getting some media coverage.
Gadfly Bites 10/6/21—Honey I shrunk the district…for $50 million
Jeff MurrayThe elected board members of Belpre City Schools in southern Ohio this week considered several options to consolidate their entire pre-K to 12th grade student body (an
Public school accountability is a myth
Mike McShaneNOTE: 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. Traditional public schools are accountable, right? I mean, everyone says they are, so it must be true.
A national look at charter school enrollment trends during the pandemic
Jessica PoinerA recent, state-level report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (NAPCS) seeks to shed some light on how many families made a school change during the pandemic. Comparing enrollment numbers from various states can be difficult as each jurisdiction has its own reporting protocols.
Researchers test a simple method to reduce suspensions for Black students
Jeff MurrayIs it possible to reduce the number of out-of-school suspensions experienced by Black students in America by means of a small tweak in school practices, such as adding a simple activity to some school days?
Gadfly Bites 10/4/21—Oh my
Jeff Murray“I’m not sure Jesus and his 12 apostles (could do the job) right now.” That was the blunt assessment of the former transportation director for Dayton City Schools last week.
Ohio should set a goal for academic recovery
Aaron ChurchillOver the past year, raucous debates have erupted over school reopenings, masking in classrooms, and critical race theory.
Gadfly Bites 10/1/21—“Please know”
Jeff MurrayThis week, Barberton City Schools announced it was suspending its main transportation routes until at least October 7 due to t
Gadfly Bites 9/29/21—There’s only one hand that matters
Jeff MurrayPardon the brief interruption of service on Monday. Back with you with lots of good clips!
Ohio’s Lost Einsteins: The inequitable outcomes of early high achievers
Scott ImbermanToo often, high-achieving students get lost in the shuffle in debates about improving education for all. Yet to keep the U.S. and Ohio competitive on a global scale, we need to nurture a next generation of inventors, scientists, and business leaders.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.24.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayImportant new research
Gadfly Bites 9/24/21—The high cost of normality
Jeff MurrayWe start our Friday clips with a trio of STEM-related stories.
Voucher critics are at it again
Jessica PoinerIt’s been a banner year for private school choice in Ohio.
Gadfly Bites 9/22/21—Getting all the headlines…and then digging deeper
Jeff MurrayFordham’s Chad Aldis was extensively quoted in Crain’s this week—along with other commentators—discussing legislative changes recently wrought upon school funding, school choice programs, and state report cards.
Suburban school districts can help urban students succeed
Aaron ChurchillIt’s no secret that many of the best public schools are located in America’s leafy suburbs. They’re typically staffed by well-trained teachers, boast up-to-date textbooks and technology, and offer advanced and specialized coursework.
Gadfly Bites 9/20/21—Creating your own goals
Jeff MurrayPlease don’t let the focus of this piece on school transportation woes in central Ohio school districts fool you. Numerous issues of accuracy and lateness have been building in districts large and small for years—long before anyone ever heard of SARS-CoV-2.
Some Ohio schools are facing a teacher shortage. What caused it, and how can it be addressed?
Jessica PoinerOver the last few months, there have been growing concerns over a teacher shortage
Gadfly Bites 9/17/21—No more dessert desert
Jeff MurrayOne unforeseen consequence of broadening free lunch for schools is, apparently, that there is not enough of certain foods to go around.
Can Ohio solve the school transportation riddle?
Aaron ChurchillEvery student ought to have safe, reliable transportation to a school that meets their needs. Recognizing this, Ohio law has long required districts to offer transportation to all resident students in grades K–8 who live more than two miles from their school—whether that’s a district, charter, private, or STEM school.
Gadfly Bites 9/15/21—The easy A
Jeff MurrayThe recent report by Ohio State University Professors Kogan and Lavertu—putting some very sobering numbers on pandemic-influenced learning loss in the Buckeye State—received national coverage from AEI’s blo
Gadfly Bites 9/13/21—Creatively innovative
Jeff MurrayHere is a decade-long program in central Ohio whereby a third-party nonprof
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.10.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayOhio Charter News Weekly is back from a brief hiatus and we’re catching up on all the news you can use from 8/27 to today! While we were out
Gadfly Bites 9/10/21—Never call a double-dog dare when you don’t know what you’re talking about
Jeff MurrayA recent research paper review—on the topic of pandemic-era academic impacts on students—written by Fordham’s Jessica Poiner became the law of the land in Ohio when it was linked and quoted in Gongwer the oth
Gadfly Bites 9/8/21—Painful switch
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites is back back back! Sorry about that, y’all.
Ohio’s 2021 spring tests show that achievement suffered during the pandemic and highlight the importance of in-person 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.
An overview of Ohio’s new school funding formula, and a look at whether it might stick
Aaron ChurchillAt the end of June, Ohio lawmakers passed House Bill 110, the biennial operating budget for FYs 2022–23. It included a new school funding framework that received bipartisan support and was backed by school district officials and teachers unions.