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.
Course grades are no substitute for exam scores
Aaron ChurchillIn late March, state lawmakers gave local schools emergency authority to determine whether students in the class of 2020 satisfied graduation requirements.
Coronavirus has made EdChoice debates even more complicated
Jessica PoinerIt’s no secret that Covid-19 has had a massive impact on schools.
Resetting school accountability, from the bottom up
Aaron Churchill , Chad L. AldisAfter a one-year pause in Ohio's school accountability system, the road back to normalcy is uncertain. Fordham's new policy brief titled Resetting school accountability, from the bottom up offers a clear and concise plan to restart state assessments and school report cards.
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.
High school diplomas aren’t enough
Aaron ChurchillA couple years ago, a district superintendent gave an astonishing quote to his local newspaper stating his belief that the only relevant measure for school quality and the evaluation of school districts is the high school grad
Measuring student growth in early elementary grades
Aaron ChurchillOne of the tougher accountability nuts to crack is how to gauge educational quality in early elementary grades. Federal education law does not require state exams until third grade, and states choose not to administer end-of-year assessments in grades K–2.
Education during a pandemic: Lessons to be learned
Chad L. AldisIn the face of a public health crisis, Ohioans have risen to the occasion. While images of heroic deeds by health care workers and grocery store employees come immediately to mind, there’s no shortage of positive stories from the education community as well.
Ohio puts education accountability on pause
Chad L. AldisThese are unprecedented times. COVID-19 has greatly altered or paused much of what we do on a daily basis, including education. Governor DeWine has suspended in-person classes in K–12 schools statewide from March 17 until at least May 1. While most schools are attempting to offer some type of distance learning, it’s decidedly not business as usual.
Ohio Education By the Numbers—2020 Edition
Aaron ChurchillNow in its fourth edition and fully updated for 2020, Ohio Education by the Numbers Education is a look at vital statistics about Ohio’s schools and the students they serve. We intend it to be a readily accessible resource that keeps education stats—with cites to original sources—at your fingertips.
More positive findings on the competitive effects of voucher programs
Jeff MurrayThe vast majority of voucher program studies have shown positive competitive effects, meaning that students who remain in public schools benefit as their schools are exposed to competition from private-school-choice programs.
How will Ohio’s emergency waivers affect the classes of 2020 to 2023?
Aaron ChurchillOn March 25, Ohio lawmakers unanimously passed emergency legislation that covers an array of policies affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
State testing, report cards, and coronavirus
Aaron ChurchillUpdate (3/30/20): On March 27, Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation waiving state assessment requirements for the 2019-20 school year.
Ohio has a responsibility to raise red flags when schools are failing
Aaron ChurchillIt’s no secret that tough accountability measures are out-of-fashion in education circles these days.
Improving Ohio’s measure of English language progress
Dr. Sara WatsonNOTE: 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.
EdChoice furthers state goal of tailoring education to individual students
Aaron Churchill“Education is not one-size-fits-all” is a common phrase heard in today’s education debates. There’s a good bit of truth to the mantra. Every child is unique in his or her own way, and policies and practices should reflect those differences. To its credit, Ohio acknowledges the importance of tailoring education to the needs of individual students.
Here’s what parents think about Ohio’s school report cards
Jessica PoinerFor the past several years, there has been a steady push by traditional education groups in Ohio to weaken state accountability and school report cards in particular.
House plan imperils some EdChoice recipients
Aaron ChurchillThe raucous debate over school choice took yet another turn last week as the Ohio House approved an amendment that would overhaul the EdChoice program.
On EdChoice, Ohio legislature looks for the lost art of compromise
Aaron ChurchillPolitics is sometimes called the “art of compromise.” Under tremendous pressure from school systems, Ohio legislators for the last few weeks have sought to find a compromise on EdChoice—Ohio’s largest voucher program—that addresses district concerns ab
The end of one parent’s school choice journey
Jeff MurrayHigh-quality academic offerings. Distance from home. Campus culture. Student safety and supports. Access to the arts, sports, and cultural opportunities. Price tag.
Gadfly Bites 1/29/20 – Voucher grouchers 4: Shell game
Jeff MurraySorry we have to tease out the updates on the voucher groucher saga a bit today. That’s the trouble with not posting daily (and don’t you dare suggest doing that either!).
The Longitudinal Effects of School Improvement Grants
Jessica PoinerThe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 marked a massive federal investment in our schools, with more than $100 billion to shore up school systems in the face of the Great Recession. Along with that largesse came two grant programs meant to encourage reform with all of those resources: Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants (SIGs).
Ohio’s college remediation numbers need more and better context
Jeff MurrayAgainst the backdrop of Ohio’s Attainment Goal 2025, the state’s annual report on college remediation rates—the number of first year college students requiring remedial courses before beginning credit bearing work—has taken on a greater
Rural Ohio schools that are beating the odds
Aaron ChurchillIn my annual review of Ohio report cards, I concentrate on the performance of public schools located in the state’s major cities, known as the “Big Eight.” The reason is twofold.
Gadfly Bites 12/23/19 – The (not so) small matter of perspective
Jeff MurrayThis is the last edition of Gadfly Bites for 2019. Thank you for reading and for subscribing. We’ll be back on January 2 with a 2019 wrap up; back to regular service for 2020 on January 3. Happy New Year to all!
Goliath sneers: On the EdChoice kerfuffle
Aaron ChurchillSchool districts, let’s face it, are the giants in K–12 education. Because states traditionally awarded districts “territorial exclusive franchises”—a gentle way of saying monopolies—they enroll the vast majority of Ohio students.
No, school choice is not gutting Ohio’s public schools
Mike McShaneNOTE: 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.
Poverty Isn't Destiny
Aaron ChurchillSince 2005, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute has published annual analyses of Ohio’s state report cards.