Gadfly Bites 10/17/22—Let’s face it
Jeff MurrayWe’re back after a Friday break and covering a plethora of news from 10/12 – 10/17/22.
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
Gadfly Bites 10/12/22—The time of the lawgivers is not nigh
Jeff MurrayAs if they did not realize that the state legislature was not currently in session (it’s election season not lawgiving season, dontcha know?),
“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.
Gadfly Bites 10/7/22—“Actually pretty encouraging”
Jeff MurrayFordham’s latest Ohio policy brief—focused on strengthening teacher re
Gadfly Bites 10/5/22—Who is running the show?
Jeff MurrayThere’s a lot of needless blather in this piece, but the bottom line is that
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.
Teacher compensation compared to other professions
Jeff MurraySylvia Allegretto and her colleagues at the union-backed Economic Policy Institute (EPI) have been arguing for over eighteen years that teachers are underpaid. Her latest in a long line of reports on the topic was published in August and follows the same methodology as all previous versions.
Gadfly Bites 10/3/22—“We’re trying to change that mindset from the traditional sense.”
Jeff MurrayBoth Fordham and the Ohio Education Association are thinking about how to strengthen the teacher workforce in our state
Gadfly Bites 9/30/22—I’ll take “Things you say when you love your report card” for $400, Mayim.
Jeff Murray“We’ll
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.
The good, bad, and ugly of College Credit Plus according to the state’s recent performance audit
Jessica PoinerSince 2015, College Credit Plus (CCP) has offered academically eligible Ohio students in grades 7–12 the opportunity to earn postsecondary credit by taking college courses for free before graduating from high school.
Gadfly Bites 9/28/22—Let’s hope it’s a farewell tour
Jeff MurrayFordham’s Aaron Churchill has an op-ed in the
Gadfly Bites 9/26/22—How long until we can go back to addressing the pre-pandemic suckitude?
Jeff MurrayHere are two “big picture” looks at Ohio report card data.
Gadfly Bites 9/19/22—And then, they overplayed their hand…
Jeff MurrayA little bit of report card hangover to start with today.
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.
Gadfly Bites 9/16/22—Shooting stars
Jeff MurrayWe’ll start today not with the obvious story, but with one that is near and dear to my dad heart:
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.
Gadfly Bites 9/14/22—Our destiny is in the stars…
Jeff MurrayFordham’s recent report on turning around low-per
School funding imperatives for Ohio’s next budget: Toward a more efficient, productive, and transparent system
Aaron ChurchillRecognizing the importance of an educated citizenry, Ohio taxpayers have made generous investments in K–12 education. In FY 2021, statewide spending on public primary and secondary education reached a record high of $21 billion or $13,300 per pupil.
Gadfly Bites 9/12/22—The shiny new thing
Jeff MurrayThe good news: Columbus City Schools appears able to find enough stuff on which to spend its full allotment of Covid-relief funding before the various deadlines, according to this piece.
Gadfly Bites 9/9/22—Playing the student success card
Jeff MurrayTiny Dalton Local Schools in eastern Ohio is very excited about new school bus safety measur
Gadfly Bites 9/7/22—Thank heavens there’s almost always a “meanwhile”
Jeff MurrayIt is a rarity for school districts to run afoul of city
Columbus teacher strike ends with significant reforms, worrying financial risks
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.
Ohio should help teachers who are buying their own classroom supplies
Jessica PoinerThanks to inflation and supply chain issues, back-to-school shopping was an especially tight squeeze for many families this year. But parents aren’t the only ones shouldering the financial burden. Teachers are, too.