An overview of Ohio’s recently-enacted family-friendly voucher changes
Jessica PoinerFor nearly twenty years, EdChoice has provided tens of thousands of students with the opportunity to attend private schools via state-funded scholarships, also known as vouchers.
NCTQ sheds light on Ohio teacher licensure exams
Jessica PoinerBefore they can stand in front of a classroom full of students, most prospective teachers have to pass state licensure exams. But how many candidates pass those exams on the first try and how many need multiple attempts? Which schools fare best at readying their students for these exams?
No, EdChoice is not the cause of racial segregation
Aaron ChurchillOpponents of school choice in Ohio continue to threaten a lawsuit seeking to eradicate the state’s largest private-school scholarship program, known as
Want great teachers and higher achievement? A study from Wisconsin suggests trying flexible pay.
Aaron ChurchillThe vast majority of Ohio teachers are paid according to salary schedules that reward seniority and degrees earned, the result of state l
Gadfly Bites 5/24/21—Perhaps they are referring to the party game?
Jeff MurrayThis headline, as with almost every legislation-related headline that includes it, misuses the term “limbo” in referencing the topic of education funding reform. (13ABC News, Toledo, 5/22/21)
Put the kids first, Ohio: It’s time for ESAs
Robert AltAs Ohio’s General Assembly continues working on the biennial state budget, policymakers have the unique chance to pursue meaningful education reform for Ohio’s K–12 students. Given the dark rain clouds of the past fourteen months, we are all grateful to see a silver lining emerging.
The EdChoice lawsuit is déjà vu all over again
Aaron ChurchillOver the past year, media outlet
Governor DeWine’s budget proposal tackles FAFSA completion
Jessica PoinerIf Ohio is going to continue making progress toward Attainment Goal 2025, a larger percentage of Ohio’s K–12 graduates must enroll in postsecondary programs and earn a degree or credential.
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
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.
Three things leaders need to get right before next school year
Jessica PoinerIt might seem far away, but the 2021–22 school year is just around the corner. In a few short months, students will be gearing up for summer break—and using that time wisely has never been more important. This fall will be similarly significant.
An important study on teacher value-added, marred by dubious conclusions
Jeff MurrayA new report from Portland State University sociologist Dara Shifrer digs into the value-added data of thousands of teachers who switched schools and concludes that value-added measures reflect the socio-economic status of students and thus cannot be used to accuratel
Big steps forward in Ohio’s private school voucher programs
Aaron ChurchillCorrection (12/17/20): A previous version of this article incorrectly indicated that the income-based EdChoice program was renamed the Buckeye Opportunity Scholarship.
Here’s how the Biden administration wants to help teachers with student loans
Jessica PoinerIn the last week, there’s been a flurry of discussion around what the incoming Biden administration could do for student loan borrowers.
Media statement on Senate Bill 89
Ohio Education GadflyThe Ohio House and Senate have each approved legislation, Senate Bill 89, which significantly changes the state’s EdChoice Scholarship program. The EdChoice Scholarship, Ohio’s largest voucher program, has been a topic of robust debate for the past year as lawmakers argued over what state report card measures should determine if a school is considered low-performing.
How to point Ohio teachers toward a brighter retirement
Aaron ChurchillThe fiscal woes of state pension systems are regularly in the news.
Default settings matter: A recap of Fordham’s teacher pensions event
Jessica PoinerThis week, Fordham released its latest report, an analysis of the three retirement options available for Ohio teachers.
You belong: Black Girl, White School
Jeff MurrayIn policy circles, school choice and desegregation discussions often stop at the schoolhouse door.
Default Settings: How Ohio can nudge teachers toward a more secure retirement
Chad AldemanThough not widely known, Ohio teachers have three retirement options: a traditional pension plan, a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan, and a hybrid plan that combines features of both. A large majority of teachers are in the pension plan—the result of either an affirmative choice or by default, not having selected a specific plan at the beginning of their careers.
Will the pandemic cause a teacher shortage in Ohio?
Jessica PoinerWhen coronavirus turned everything upside down this spring, there were predictions that educators would retire in droves rather than risk teaching during a pandemic.
Schools need talented teachers. Here’s how to find them in these challenging times.
Jessica PoinerThere are no silver bullets when it comes to closing achievement gaps. But there are inputs and interventions with solid evidence bases, and the impact of a good teacher is one of them.
To deal with coronavirus fallout, we need talented teachers
Jessica PoinerIn the last six months, as the nation has struggled in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of controversy and disagreement over what schools need
The Cincinnati Enquirer’s absurd analysis of EdChoice
Aaron ChurchillThe Cincinnati Enquirer recently published a deeply flawed and misleading “analysis” of the EdChoice scholarship (a.k.a. voucher) program.
Why the opponents of vouchers are wrong
Chad L. AldisThe growth of private school choice programs in Ohio has clearly struck a nerve with the education bureaucracy. After rapid expansion in the number of schools slated to be deemed “low-performing” in 2020–21, which ballooned the number of students eligible for vouchers, choice opponents pushed for massive changes in Ohio’s EdChoice program.
Coronavirus has made EdChoice debates even more complicated
Jessica PoinerIt’s no secret that Covid-19 has had a massive impact on schools.
Ohio needs flexible and affordable school choice, especially under COVID-19’s ongoing threat
Greg R. LawsonEditor’s Note: 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.
The impact of coronavirus on Ohio’s private schools
Jessica PoinerAs schools across Ohio stagger toward the finish line of a bizarre and difficult school year, educators, parents, and state and local leaders are beginning to turn their attention toward the uncertainties of the future.
Portrait of the teaching force in America
Jeff MurrayThe National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently published the latest data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), conducted during the 2017–18 school year. It gives us an important snapshot of today’s teaching force in both public and private schools.
Columbus audit offers sobering lessons for Ohio teacher evaluations
Vladimir KoganEditor’s Note: 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.