Gadfly Bites 2/22/23—Now was that so hard?
Jeff MurrayNice coverage of Governor DeWine’s all-in push to make the science of reading the law of the land he
Gadfly Bites 2/20/23—Geeking out
Jeff MurrayThis feels like good news to me: It was announced last week that Ohio will join the group o
Gadfly Bites 2/17/23—But you must act now!
Jeff MurrayOhio’s state auditor and the president of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges published
Gadfly Bites 2/15/23—The price is wrong
Jeff MurrayThe Senate Education Committee heard testimony on SB 1 yesterday.
Testimony presented before the Senate Education Committee on Senate Bill 1—2/14/23
Chad L. AldisNOTE: Today, the Ohio Senate’s Education Committee heard testimony on SB 1
The relationship between general education teachers and the success of English learners
Jeff MurrayEnglish learners (ELs) are students whose native language is other than English and who score below proficient on an English proficiency test. There were more than 5 million ELs in U.S.
Gadfly Bites 2/13/23—“It may never be a perfect system”
Jeff MurrayAs I was reading this piece about
Gadfly Bites 2/10/23—Happy to share data
Jeff MurrayThere’s not much substantive detail in this coverage, but the Ohio Department o
Governor DeWine’s budget takes bold steps forward on charter schools and private school choice
Aaron ChurchillLast week, Governor Mike DeWine unveiled his state budget proposal for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
Grow your own programs could help Ohio address teacher shortages
Jessica PoinerTeacher shortages have been a hot topic over the last few years.
Gadfly Bites 2/3/23—The good, the bad, and the obvious of voucher expansion
Jeff MurrayWhile Governor DeWine’s budget priorities included billions (billions I say!) to support a huge range of K-12 education priorities, lotsa folks out here in punditland only want to talk about proposed EdChoice Scholarship
Fordham Institute media statement on Governor DeWine’s education proposals
Ohio Education GadflyToday, Governor Mike DeWine announced his state budget priorities for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 in his state of the state address. Among his K–12 education proposals include bold steps that would greatly strengthen Ohio’s school choice programs.
Improving the accuracy of school funding data
Jeff MurrayMany states fund students who utilize school choice—public charter schools, private school voucher programs, interdistrict open enrollment, and the like—via “passthrough” mechanisms whereby per-pupil funding goes into a student’s home district coffers first before being transferred to the schools that stud
Gadfly Bites 1/30/23—Earnest pondering
Jeff MurrayThe superintendent of LaBrae Local Schools (nope, me neither) has a list of interesting questions that
Gadfly Bites 1/27/23—Sometimes, I can’t even report ‘em
Jeff MurrayThere are, in my estimation, only two people in Ohio (outside of state government, that is) who truly understand our school funding system. Neither of them is me.
Gadfly Bites 1/25/23—When you want something done, ask a busy person to do it
Jeff MurrayThree reasons why legislators are right to transform the state board of education
Jessica PoinerIn December, state lawmakers rocked the boat during an otherwise sleepy lame duck session by moving forward with a proposal to significantly overhaul Ohio’s education governance structure.
Gadfly Bites 1/23/23—Impossible to overestimate
Jeff MurrayDespite the somewhat-traditional National School Choice Week snowfall,
Ohio auditor’s report on teacher pension system raises concerns, no illegalities
Aaron ChurchillIn December, the Ohio Auditor of State released a special audit of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS).
Gadfly Bites 1/18/23—Checking in on the big districts
Jeff MurrayIt’s an all-Urban 8 edition today.
Casting a wide net to help define teacher expertise
Jeff MurrayWe need many more effective, “expert” teachers in our schools. Thus, a new report aiming to synthesize numerous past studies in order to identify attributes that make a top performing teacher should be of interest to practitioners and policymakers alike.
Gadfly Bites 1/13/23—Anyone besides me kinda hope it’s cloudy that day?
Jeff MurrayWe first noted this…unusual story last Friday, and simply alluded to it in the Bites because it seemed fanciful at the time.
Fordham Institute statement on introduction of Senate Bill 1
Ohio Education GadflyToday, Senator Bill Reineke introduced Senate Bill 1, 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 1/9/23—Welcomes, warm and otherwise
Jeff MurrayFirst things first: Looks like a deal was reached between Akron City Schools and its teachers union at some point over the weekend.