Fordham Institute statement on Senate Passage of SB 178
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 178, legislation that would dramatically change the duties of the State Board of Education, create a Department of Education and Workforce Development, and make the new department part of the governor’s cabinet.
Gadfly Bites 12/5/22—Supposed to
Jeff MurrayThe Dispatch has editorials covering several perspectives on the pending bill which would, among other things, revamp the state board of education.
How Governor DeWine can make learning recovery his second term legacy
Aaron ChurchillLast month, Governor Mike DeWine cruised to a second term, easily dispatching challenger Nan Whaley by a 63 to 37 percent margin. Congrats to the governor, Lieutenant Governor Husted, and their team on the win. Now comes the real work—and the rewarding part—of the job: helping to secure a stronger and brighter future for Ohio.
Gadfly Bites 12/2/22—Proponents
Jeff MurrayOn Wednesday, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 178. That’s the one which proposes big changes to the governance structure of K-12 education in the state.
Does Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program impact traditional school districts?
First launched in fall 2007, Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program served more than 55,000 students in 2021-22. The program offers state-funded scholarships to eligible students and allows them to attend a private school.
Testimony presented before the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee on SB 178
Chad L. AldisNOTE: Today, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on
Gadfly Bites 11/30/22—Too late to call in the troops?
Jeff MurrayPatrick O’Donnell informs us that,
Gadfly Bites 11/28/22—“It is very much out of our control”
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites is back from the holiday stuffed and happy. Hope you are too! We are covering clips from 11/18 – 11/28.
School transportation woes are harming central Ohio students
Jeff MurrayNews reports make the situation crystal clear: School transportation in central Ohio, and elsewhere, is in disarray.
Gadfly Bites 11/18/22—Don’t let up
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites will be on vacation/holiday all next week. That should help your own turkey go down a little smoother.
Are Ohio’s student achievement goals ambitious enough?
Aaron ChurchillIn the education world, the last couple months have been awash in news and commentary about sagging student achievement in the wake of the pandemic.
Testimony given before the state board of education--11/15/22
Chad L. AldisNOTE: Today, the state board of education heard public comment on a pending resolution which would call for the elimination of the
Gadfly Bites 11/14/22—If I could limit today’s edition to just one clip, you know I would
Jeff MurrayToday’s headline says it all for me, but a) I can’t make this gig all about myself or all 9 of you dedicated Gadfly Bites subscribers will no doubt abandon ship, and b) this “other” story is interesting also.
Gadfly Bites 11/11/22—“We can’t just dive in and teach kids how to read”
Jeff MurrayHere’s another angle on a story we talked about earlier this week: Changing the way students are taught to read in Dayton-area schools.
Ohio leaders need to stand firm on early literacy
Jessica PoinerIf you’ve been paying attention to education headlines this fall, you’ve likely noticed a spate of think pieces and analyses
Gadfly Bites 11/9/22—From pivot to revolving door
Jeff MurrayIndianan Christopher Lubienski, PhD, is not a fan of vouchers for low-income folks to attend private schools with the help of state funds.
Gadfly Bites 11/7/22—Expressing optimism is often easier than having it
Jeff MurrayThe gist of
Gadfly Bites 11/2/22—Perhaps there’s a different definition of “pro-active” of which I am unaware
Jeff MurrayI don’t know from this piece what they were doing before now, but
Do the math: How to maximize the benefits of ability grouping
Jeff MurrayThe grouping of students into smaller, more homogeneous cohorts is a widespread instructional strategy utilized in elementary classrooms across the country. It is intended to boost the academic outcomes of all students through instruction targeted at an appropriate level, be that remedial or advanced or somewhere in between.
Gadfly Bites 10/31/22—Corrections and revisions
Jeff MurrayThe chair of the Senate Education Committee on Friday gave Gongwer a preview of his priorities for the upcoming lame duck legislative session.
Gadfly Bites 10/28/22—Weak electronic sauce
Jeff MurrayNot much to report on, really, but let’s get to it.
Gadfly Bites 10/26/22—Fighting only half the battle
Jeff MurraySo we had our NAEP teaser on Monday. Let’s dig into the details today.
Ohio’s dismal NAEP results demand an assertive policy response
Aaron ChurchillEvery two years, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) checks the pulse of students’ math and reading achievement across the United States. After a one-year hiatus, the U.S. Department of Education released its latest data from tests given to a representative sample of students in early 2022.
National assessment data show impact of pandemic on Ohio students; policymakers need to redouble academic recovery efforts
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the United States Department of Education released data from the 2022 round of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the “Nation’s Report Card.” These assessments are given to a representative sample of students from every state and provides one of the most comprehensive looks at student achievement across the nation.
Gadfly Bites 10/24/22—“Too complex to draw the straight line”
Jeff MurrayIt’s a sure bet that