Fordham Ohio’s most-read blog posts of 2019
Ohio Education GadflyIt’s that time of year once again—when the work is on pause, the computer keys are quiet, and the email boxes are weirdly dormant. Time to look back and see what pieces you, our generous and discerning readers, engaged with the most in 2019. In (almost) chronological order:
The top 5 Ohio education policy stories of 2019
Jessica Poiner2019 was a busy year for education in Ohio. Governor DeWine took office in January, replacing the term-limited John Kasich. The spring and summer months were dominated by the state budget cycle. And the latter half of the year was characterized by familiar controversies.
Gadfly Bites 12/20/19 – Another empty room
Jeff MurrayColumnist Tom Troy (also an associate editor) at the Blade, joined the chorus of voices disappoint
Gadfly Bites 12/18/19 – Predictability
Jeff MurrayOhio’s Report Card Study Committee released its report earlier this week. Its findings are meant to guide lawmakers in making possible changes to said report cards.
Accelerating high flyers can yield long-term benefits
Aaron ChurchillAccording to a recent Hechinger Report article, U.S.
Gadfly Bites 12/16/19 – What’s the opposite of expert testimony?
Jeff MurrayBites is back with you after a tiny hiatus last Friday. So sorry to leave you hanging. Lots to talk about, so let’s dive in!
Gadfly Bites 12/11/19 – Differentiation is hard
Jeff MurrayI fear I have run out of clever ways to discuss the level and form of heartburn being expressed throughout the state over the size of the new EdChoice voucher e
Gadfly Bites 12/9/19 – It burns
Jeff MurrayWe start with a two-fer for Fordham from last Friday’s Gongwer.
Gadfly Bites 12/6/19 – Frustration
Jeff MurrayWhining and opining continue in response to the conference call to arms regard to the EdChoice Scholarship program.
Gadfly Bites 12/4/19 – The Conference Call
Jeff MurrayWho knew that Monday’s stinker of a story from Fairless Local Schools would come home to roost (still with the bird puns!) so soon?
Gadfly Bites 12/2/19 – Mixed messages
Jeff MurrayWe’re back after a long holiday break with lots to cover. So let’s get to it.
Gadfly Bites 11/27/19 – Trends
Jeff MurrayFolks in Lorain are keeping their eyes firmly on the future, it seems.
Gadfly Bites 11/25/19 – Treasurers say the darnedest things
Jeff MurrayI hate to be an old I Told Ya So, but it seems that Dayton City Schools’ plan to boost student attendance by spending massively on public transportation has moved the ne
Gadfly Bites 11/22/19 – When families don’t buy what you’re selling
Jeff MurrayAs expected, Plain Local Schools is going to court—federal court—to stop a new state law which makes it easier for property owners in the district to win a rezoning request to join
Gadfly Bites 11/20/19 – Swimming in money, drowning in debt
Jeff MurrayI’m not sure I follow all the arguments here, but let me see if I can summarize.
Gadfly Bites 11/18/19 – Two thumbs down
Jeff MurrayThis is an editorial which exonerates the Lorain school board and every other area official and meddling rando who obstructed David Hardy’s work a
Gadfly Bites 11/15/19 – If that’s what you get for boosting a report card…
Jeff MurrayOhio’s Report Card Study Committee met this week to talk turkey about all of the various parts making up school and district report cards.
Gadfly Bites 11/13/19 – I promise this edition is worth your time
Jeff MurrayOnly two clips today—both on the same subject. Both are fantastic. Both of them beg a question.
Gadfly Bites 11/11/19 – Confirmation
Jeff MurrayConfirmed at last: College Credit Plus does save some kids money on college!
Gadfly Bites 11/8/19 – The Youngstown Accords
Jeff MurrayIn Youngstown, the elected school board and the mayor agreed that the process to replace the elected board, as called for in Ohio’s still-on-the-books-last-time-I-checked academic distress commission paradigm, would be o
Gadfly Bites 11/6/19 – Just in case
Jeff MurrayState Senator Matt Huffman wants Ohio to be “first in line” for a federal private education choice matching program…if it ever actually happens. And last week he introduced legislation to get the ball rolling.
A closer look at Ohio’s independent STEM schools
Jessica PoinerIn response to technological innovations and a rapidly changing economy, schools across the nation have increasingly focused on offering curricula and programs centered around the principles of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Cupp-Patterson plan: Lots more resources, no reform
Aaron ChurchillEarlier this month, the Ohio House Finance Committee began hearings on a school funding plan crafted by Representatives Robert Cupp and John Patterson, along with a group
Gadfly Bites 11/4/19 – It’s your choice, apparently
Jeff MurrayThank heavens election day is tomorrow. I am heartily sick of all this campaign junk taking up space in Ohio’s news outlets.
Gadfly Bites 11/1/19 – Hot in Cincinnati (and Cleveland too)
Jeff MurrayIn case you had forgotten, there is a hotly contested race for school board in Cincinnati City Schools going on, and I mean “Cincinnati hot”. Thank heavens it will be over by this time next week.
Gadfly Bites 10/30/19 – “Where we were wasn’t working very well.”
Jeff MurrayOnly two pieces of Bites-worthy news today. First up, from the Is Nothing Sacred?
Gadfly Bites 10/28/19 – To function and thrive in the world
Jeff MurrayAs we have discussed regularly in the Bites over the last five years, there is a fiscal analogue to the state’s efforts at academic oversight in school districts.
Gadfly Bites 10/25/19 – More arguments
Jeff MurrayAs noted on Wednesday, arguments were heard before the Ohio Supreme Court (sitting in remote Montpelier, Ohio) on the constitutionality of HB 70, the law which created Ohio’s current CEO-st