Commentary
Career & Technical Education
A closer look at Ohio’s industry-recognized credential data
Since taking office in 2019, Governor DeWine has prioritized expanding and improving
Commentary
Private School Choice
What’s next for private school choice in Ohio?
This is the sixth in a series in which I examine issues in K–12 education that Ohio leaders should tackle in the next biennial state budget.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Take it from an Akron kid: Akron families deserve better from their school board
Earlier this summer, the Akron Public Schools (APS) board voted to become part of the statewide lawsuit seeking to dismantle Ohio’s EdChoice Scholarship program.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
The International Baccalaureate provides Ohio schools with another way to offer high-quality career pathways
Expanding and improving career pathways for secondary students is an increasingly important priority for Ohio policymakers. As such, it will likely be a focal point during the upcoming state budget cycle.
Commentary
School Finance
Ohio should keep making headway toward equitable charter school funding
This is the fifth in a series in which I examine issues in K–12 education that Ohio leaders should tackle in the next biennial state budget.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
A deep dive into work-based learning in Ohio
Work-based learning initiatives provide a direct connection between K–12 education and the workforce. They offer students invaluable work experience, hands-on training with experienced mentors, and a chance to apply technical skills and develop soft skills. They give employers an opportunity to bolster talent pipelines and train future staff on in-demand skills.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Gadfly Bites 7/10/24—Enlightenment dawns
News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full. Just sayin’.
Commentary
School Finance
Gadfly Bites 6/28/24—Suffering losses
News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full. Just sayin’.
Commentary
School Finance
Will Ohio ever put an end to school funding “guarantees”?
This is fourth in a series in which I examine issues in K–12 education that Ohio leaders should tackle in the next biennial state budget.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Shame on Upper Arlington schools
With a 3-2 vote last week, the Upper Arlington school board signed onto a lawsuit that aims t
Commentary
Private School Choice
Public-school groups’ latest stratagem: Tie Ohio’s voucher program in red tape
It’s no secret that the public-school establishment pulls out all the stops to prevent families from exercising educational choice, including private school options.
Commentary
School Finance
Ohio’s school funding formula is hurting open enrollment
Changes to the way districts are funded when they accept open enrolled students from outside their borders threatens to shrink a popular and important public school choice program. This longstanding option must remain widely available and robust.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Gadfly Bites 6/3/24—Blurred line vibes
News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full. Just sayin’.
Commentary
School Finance
Give Ohio teachers control over their own retirement
The soap opera at the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), the entity that manages Ohio’s teacher pensions, has made non-stop headlines of late.
Commentary
School Finance
Ohio needs to fix its method for counting and funding low-income students
This is second in a series where I examine issues in K–12 education that Ohio leaders should tackle in the next biennial state budget.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
Getting career planning right
One of the hallmarks of Governor DeWine’s administration has been its emphasis on expanding and improving career pathways for students. Thus, it came as no surprise that the governor focused on this critical issue in his recent state of the state address.
Commentary
School Finance
Education priorities for Ohio’s next biennial budget, part 1: Sustained investment for literacy reform
Ohio regularly creates and funds major education policies in a two-year biennial budget, so it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2025 cycle. This is the first of several posts where I’ll discuss issues that should be on lawmakers’ radars as they gear up.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
Ohio is investing hundreds of millions to strengthen and expand access to CTE
Last January, during his 2023 state of the state address, Governor DeWine pledged to invest additional state funding in career and technical education (CTE) programs.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Gadfly Bites 3/25/24—This is your celebration?
News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
A primer on career pathways implementation in Ohio
Career-technical education (CTE) has become a significant priority for Ohio leaders and lawmakers over the last several years. For those who aren’t familiar with CTE, or who may have outdated views about what it offers students, this increasing emphasis may be surprising.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
Ohio bolsters its efforts to publicize workforce options for students
Last year, Ohio lawmakers overhauled the state’s K–12 education governance system by transferring the majority of powers and duties assigned to the state board of education to a revamped executive branch office known as the Department of Educat
Report
Career & Technical Education
Ohio’s Career-Technical Education Landscape: An overview of CTE at the high school level
Our latest policy brief provides an overview of the CTE landscape for Ohio high schoolers.
Commentary
Private School Choice
Gadfly Bites 2/19/24—Who’s sitting at the table matters
News stories featured in Gadfly Bites may require a paid subscription to read in full.
Commentary
School Finance
ESSER’s sunset: Not a cut, but a return to normalcy
As we approach September 2024, the education community is bracing for the expiration of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. There’s a growing narrative that this marks a significant funding cut for schools.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
Searching for a link between CTE and postsecondary pathways for students with learning disabilities
A new research report examines the confluence of career and technical education (CTE) and the academic trajectory of high school students with learning disabilities (SWLD).
Commentary
School Finance
Teacher pay increases and their impacts on salary level, hiring, and turnover
What is the impact of teacher salary increases on recruitment and retention? A new report gives us an interesting on-the-ground look using data from Washington State.
Commentary
School Finance
Looking at the racial and ethnic dimension of school closures in California
Between 2007 and 2022, California saw its K–12 public school enrollment decrease by more than 390,000 students, or more than 6 percent statewide, according to data from the state’s Department of Education.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
Indiana’s recent CTE efforts provide lessons for Ohio
For nearly a decade, leaders in Indiana have shaped state policy based on the Next Level Agenda, a series of legislative and administrative priorities that cover a wide variety of issues ranging from the economy and infrastructure improvements to the drug epidemic.
Commentary
Career & Technical Education
More Ohio high school students are earning industry credentials, but are they valuable in the labor market?
Industry-recognized credentials (IRCs) can validate attainment of technical skills and signal to employers that a worker is qualified to perform certain tasks. While credentials are particularly useful for adults, they can also benefit high school students by helping to build their skillsets and giving them an edge when it comes time to compete for a job.
Commentary
Evidence-Based Learning, School Finance, Charter Schools, Governance, Teachers & School Leaders
Basic facts undermine the arguments of private school choice critics
For nearly two decades, Ohio’s EdChoice program has unlocked private school options for tens of thousands of students by offering state-funded scholarships.
