Yes, the House’s proposed school rating labels are “actively misleading”
Aaron ChurchillAfter months of debate, state lawmakers continue to mull significant changes to Ohio’s school report card system. Two vastly different proposals to overhaul the report card framework have emerged (House Bill 200 and Senate Bill 145).
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 5.28.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayThe past, present, and future of charter schools
The third grade reading guarantee might be working after all
Aaron ChurchillFirst implemented in the 2013–14 school year, Ohio’s third grade reading guarantee has aimed to ensure that all children have the foundational reading skills needed to navigate more chall
Academic distress commissions just might be improving student achievement
Aaron ChurchillGallons of ink, some on this blog, have been spilled about what Ohio should do about academically troubled school districts.
Sidestepping accountability, the sequel: The sad similarities between graduation requirements and academic distress commissions
Jessica PoinerOhio education policy has seen its fair share of controversy in recent years, but there are two policies in particular that have dominated news cycles: graduation requirements and academic distress commissions (ADCs).
Ohio Charter News Weekly - 1.11.19
Chad L. Aldis, Madison YoderAutomatic charter closure questioned
For Ohio districts with vacant buildings, sharing isn’t caring
Jessica PoinerEarlier this month, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece that charged school district officials in various cities with attempting to stall the growth of school choice b
Ohio’s rushing to include alternatives to assessments in its graduation requirements
Jessica PoinerIn August, the Ohio Department (ODE) of Education and the State Board of Education (SBOE) released their five-year strategic plan for education.
Ohio Charter News Weekly - 8/24/18
Chad L. Aldis, Madison Yoder2018 EdNext Poll shows increased support for charter schools
Ohio could learn from Kentucky’s newly proposed graduation requirements
Jessica PoinerBy Jessica Poiner
Ohio Charter News Weekly - 8/10/18
Chad L. Aldis, Madison YoderGovernor Kasich signs HB 87 and SB 216 into law
LeBron’s I Promise School isn’t a charter, but it puts kids first—and that’s all that matters
Jessica PoinerYou’ve probably heard by now that basketball superstar LeBron James opened a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Called I Promise School (IPS), it’s a joint effort between the I Promise Network, the LeBron James Family Foundation, and Akron Public Schools.
The potential impact of dropout recovery report card changes
Jessica PoinerI recently wrote about some big changes that are coming for Ohio’s dropout prevention and recovery schools (DPRS), thanks to recent adjustments made by the State Board of Education. This piece examines the potential impacts of those changes.
Ohio’s preliminary test results look pretty good
Jessica PoinerAt the most recent State Board of Education meeting, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) reported preliminary test results from the 2017–18 school year. The numbers still need to be verified by districts before they can be used to calculate report cards, which will include more detailed data and be disaggregated by subgroup.
Ohio’s dual credit landscape: A primer
Jessica PoinerWith college tuition at an all-time high, Ohio families are increasingly interested in finding ways to save on costs. Dual credit is a promising solution because if offers students the chance to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Ohio has a plethora of dual-credit options, but some are better known to families than others. Here is a quick overview of the offerings.
Innovation Ohio’s half truths about ECOT and school funding
Aaron ChurchillOver the past month, local newspapers across Ohio have blasted headlines such as “Local schools lost millions to ECOT” and “Study: Now-defunct ECOT siphoned $2.6 million from
Can school accountability policies improve working conditions?
Aaron ChurchillA-to-F school rating systems have come under fire in Ohio and remain a hotly debated topic elsewhere.
Big changes are coming for Ohio’s dropout prevention and recovery schools
Jessica PoinerState report cards are a hot topic in Ohio, but most of the attention has been focused on the system used for traditional district and charter schools. Many Ohioans are unaware that state law requires the State Board of Education to have a separate report card system for dropout prevention and recovery charter schools (DPRS).
When the standard isn’t the standard: Ohio’s early reading guarantee
Aaron ChurchillIn a pattern now becoming all too familiar, the State Board of Education recently got spooked by the prospect of tougher standards and delayed action on lifting grade-promotion standards under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee for 2018–19.
Don’t punt overall school ratings, again
Aaron ChurchillIf kicking the accountability can down the road were an Olympic sport, Ohio policymakers would win the gold medal. The latest example comes from the State Board of Education, which recently recommended that the state legislature again push back the overall A–F rating to fall 2019.
Getting to square one: Longstanding troubles hinder the Youngstown turnaround effort
Jeff MurrayIn a recent analysis of the Academic Distress Commission (ADC) system currently in place in Youngstown City Schools, my colleague Jessica Poiner shows significant deviations from the six habits<
Testimony given before the House Education and Career Readiness Committee on House Bill 591—5/22/18
Chad L. AldisNOTE: The Education and Career Readiness Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives today heard testimony on HB 591, a proposal that would make changes to Ohio’s school report cards. Fordham’s Chad Aldis was a witness at this hearing and these are his written remarks.
Old habits die hard: An analysis of the Youngstown turnaround effort
Jessica PoinerOhio is no stranger to district turnarounds. Back in 2007, academic distress commissions (ADCs) were added to state law as a way for the state to intervene in districts that consistently fail to meet academic standards.
When progress isn't progress: Akron’s graduation rate soars
Chad L. AldisEducation is hard, so we should celebrate success at every opportunity. A sky-high graduation rate, for example, should make us smile from ear to ear.
Why Ohio should stick with A–F school grades
Aaron ChurchillThe debate around Ohio’s school report cards continues to simmer. An outspoken critic since last year’s report card release, Representative Mike Duffey recently unveiled House Bill 591.
Fordham Institute media statement on Ohio’s 2017 NAEP results
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the U.S. Department of Education released results from the 2017 round of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Given every two years, this assessment is administered in all 50 states to a random sample of fourth and eighth grade students in reading and math.
Ohio shouldn’t walk back new equity measures for students
Madison YoderOhio’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan doesn’t include many changes to the state’s current accountability system, but it does make some meaningful adjustments that improve equity within the state.
Guest commentary: Lawmakers should reject state board call for retreat on graduation requirements
By Jack Archer
Can mixed assessment methods make biology classes more equitable?
Jeff MurrayMuch attention is fittingly paid to race- and income-based achievement gaps in K-12 schools. But research has also documented similar and worrying gender-based gaps in college classes on high-stakes science tests.