Do high-performing charter schools improve student health outcomes?
Jeff MurrayIs it possible that attending a high-performing school may help young people live healthier lives? An intriguing new paper from the American Medical Association’s JAMA Network open access journal says yes, though with some important caveats. A research team lead by Dr.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 10.14.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayReport card success = student success
Will Ohio’s suburban schools slip into academic mediocrity?
Aaron ChurchillLast month, we looked at the recently released state assessment data from the 2021–22 school year. The results are sobering: Student achievement remains depressed in the wake of the pandemic, and gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their peers have widened.
Examining report card results for districts that were under academic distress
Jessica PoinerIn the summer of 2021, Ohio lawmakers caved to political pressure and created an off-ramp for the three districts under an Academic Distress Com
“Social promotion” returns without a state reading requirement
Aaron ChurchillFor the better part of the past decade, Ohio has required schools to hold back third graders who do not meet state reading standards.
Preparing all children to become strong readers: Ten ways to strengthen Ohio’s grades K–3 early literacy initiatives
Aaron ChurchillChildren who start strong in reading are more likely to succeed academically as they progress through middle school, high school, and beyond. Conversely, those who struggle to read in the early grades often falter as they encounter more challenging material; many become frustrated with school and drop out.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 10.7.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayContinuing discussion of important research
A closer look at early literacy results on state report cards
Jessica PoinerA few weeks ago, Ohio released state report cards for the 2021–22 school year.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.30.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayImportant new research
Assessing the academic wreckage of the pandemic in Ohio
Aaron ChurchillThe past two school years have been anything but normal due to pandemic disruptions, with student achievement showing the strain.
Post-pandemic patterns indicate too little access to grade-level work
Jeff MurrayHelping students catch up from more than two years of school-closure-related learning loss will be an impossible task if they do not have regular access to grade-level work in their classrooms.
Checking in on Ohio’s curriculum reform efforts
Jessica PoinerUnless there’s a political or ideological controversy, curricular decisions in schools and districts rarely make headlines. That’s too bad because these choices are immensely important.
Annual Ohio exams paint mixed picture of post-pandemic academic recovery
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.
Fordham Institute media statement on Ohio report card release
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the Ohio Department of Education released its annual report cards for the 2021-22 school year. For two decades, report cards have shined a light on pupil achievement and provided parents and communities with an important check on student progress.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.9.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayBusing woes large, growing
ODE’s budget proposal wisely boosts Ohio’s early literacy efforts
Aaron ChurchillIn late August, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) unveiled its FYs 2024–25 budget priorities to a state board of education committee.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.2.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff Murray20 years of serving Dayton students
Voucher critics are starting to say the quiet part out loud
Jessica PoinerPersistent school choice critic Steve Dyer recently posted a “takedown” of Fordham’s latest school choice policy recommendations.
Turning around troubled schools: How Ohio can create a stronger, clearer school improvement program
Aaron ChurchillAs Governor Mike DeWine asserted, the state of Ohio has “a moral obligation” on behalf of students to step in when schools are falling short of academic performance standards. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), federal lawmakers have given states the ability to chart their own course when it comes to fixing under-performing schools.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 8.26.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayWest Virginia charter update
Adding up the impact: A meta-analysis of summer math interventions
Jeff MurrayWhile some evidence indicates a return
LIVE EVENT: Should Universal School Choice Be Next on Ohio’s Education Policy Agenda?
The Buckeye Institute, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and School Choice Ohio cordially invite you to a continental breakfast and coffee dialogue with national and Ohio experts as they discuss recent successful efforts around the country to expand parental choice, lessons learned, best practices, and potential next steps for the Buckeye State.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 8.19.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayNew school year stories—good
Creating great school options for all Ohio students: Recommendations to strengthen educational choice in the Buckeye State
Aaron ChurchillOhio has a long history of empowering parents with educational options for their children. Today, more than 250,000 of the state’s 1.6 million students attend public charter schools, enroll in private schools with the support of state-funded scholarships, or participate in interdistrict open enrollment.
How can Ohio turnaround its lowest-performing schools? VIRTUAL EVENT
A few years ago, in the midst of debates over academic distress commissions (ADCs), Governor DeWine said “The state has a moral obligation to help intervene on behalf of students stuck in failing schools.”
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 8.5.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayMillions of students served…