Gadfly Bites 1/7/22—The future could be now
Jeff MurrayI’m sure my long-suffering tenured subscribers have noted that I am not clipping stories about which schools are closed/open/remote/in-person/hybrid/winging it due to SARS-CoV-2-related issues these days, despite the fact that education reporters (and government reporters and crime reporters a
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 1.6.22
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayWelcome back to our first edition of 2022, covering news from 12/17 – 12/31/21. We will return to regular weekly publication on Fridays starting tomorrow. Life advice and career advice
Gadfly Bites 1/5/22—New lawsuit just dropped!
Jeff MurrayRemember last year when Red (Taylor’s Version) dropped and everyone was really excited that Taylor Swift had rerecorded her amazing album—making it even better in the process—in order to reclaim ownership of her music?
Gadfly Bites 1/4/22—“A great choice for us.”
Jeff MurrayWe’re back a day early (that’ll teach you!) with a roundup of clips we missed between December 22 and 31, 2021. Back with regular thrice-weekly publication for 2022 starting tomorrow. You have been warned.
Predicting the top Ohio education issues for 2022
Jessica PoinerEvery holiday season, those of us at the Ohio Gadfly try to predict what the new year will bring for education. This year is no exception.
K–12 education in Ohio: The top four stories from 2021
Aaron ChurchillAs every year does, 2021 began with much optimism. Vaccines were rolling out, businesses were reopening, and the economy was on the mend. But then, as always, reality set in. While most Americans were vaccinated, the pandemic dragged on. The economy continued to pick up, but so did inflation. The year in K–12 education followed a similar pattern.
Most read blog posts of 2021
Ohio Education GadflyFordham Ohio’s blogging output this year was varied and prodigious.
Gadfly Bites 12/22/21—The high cost of consolidation
Jeff MurrayThis is our last edition for the year. (No. Don’t cry.) We’ll be back on Tuesday, January 4, with a final look at 2021. Regular thrice weekly publication will resume starting Wednesday, January 5. (Then you’ll have reason to cry.)
Gadfly Bites 12/20/21—It’ll probably cost however much they’ve got
Jeff MurrayThe administration and elected school board of Green Local Schools announced last week that federal Covid-relief money will be u
Are private schools “unaccountable”?
Aaron ChurchillIn the debates over private school scholarship (a.k.a. voucher) programs, one of opponents’ favorite talking points is to say that nonpublic schools are “unaccountable” or “unregulated.” To get a flavor, consider the following statements made over the past couple years:
Gadfly Bites 12/17/21—Problem solved
Jeff MurrayWe have been talking a lot this week about the Youngstown CEO’s unappreciated past, unbalanced present, and unlikely future in the district.
Gadfly Bites 12/15/21—Not Justin time
Jeff MurrayA teacher unionization effort is underway at Menlo Park Academy, the only Ohio charter school specifically for gifted stu
Gadfly Bites 12/13/21—Crystal
Jeff MurrayIt appears likely that current district CEO Justin Jennings will not be superintendent of Youngstown City Schools when the elected school
Gadfly Bites 12/10/21—Simple cleanup
Jeff MurrayAnother quiet news cycle to end the week. The Ohio Senate this week passed SB 229.
Gadfly Bites 12/8/21—Fantastical
Jeff MurrayI am always amused when average citizens attempt to handwave serious problems away by saying that “They should do something”. Not to minimize those nuisances at all, but the response to them follows a predictable and perhaps less-than-helpful pattern.
Build Back Better’s early childhood proposals will strain state budgets
Aaron ChurchillPresident Biden and the Democratic-controlled Congress are poised to continue the federal government’s spending spree, this time through a $2 trillion extravaganza named Build Back Better (BBB). Just before Thanksgiving, the House of Representatives narrowly passed its version of the measure, and the Senate is now mulling possible changes to the package.
Gadfly Bites 12/6/21—Oh, there will still be plenty of academic distress—don’t you worry
Jeff MurrayText to follow--check back soon!
Gadfly Bites 12/3/21—Cloudy with a chance of baloney
Jeff MurrayThere are only two times when school report cards are deemed correct by school district officials: the first is when they show traditional district schools
Gadfly Bites 12/1/21—Janky
Jeff MurrayWhere the heck are the education news stories these days? Only one to cover today, but at least it’s pretty interesting.
Gadfly Bites 11/29/21—Revenge of the nerds
Jeff MurrayWe’re back from the Thanksgiving holiday break, laden with leftovers.
Gadfly Bites 11/24/21—Rekindling, blazing, and firing up
Jeff MurrayNo Bites on Friday (to help you avoid indigestion). Back Monday after Thanksgiving. Let’s hope there are some clips worth snarking upon when we return.
Reform-minded school board members should push for choice, science of reading
Aaron ChurchillIn the wake of the November elections, hundreds of new school board members will soon take their seats overseeing Ohio’s 600 plus districts.
Gadfly Bites 11/22/21—The opposite of appreciation
Jeff MurrayWe’re back after a short break. Looks like we missed a couple of humdingers. Let’s get to it!
Gadfly Bites 11/17/21—The phantom menace
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites will be taking a little break on Friday. (Stop cheering back there, you ingrates!) We’ll be back on Monday to catch up with whatever exhausting shenanigans have happened in the interim.
Ohio’s third grade retention policy is backed by good research
Aaron ChurchillPassed almost a decade ago, the aptly named Third Grade Reading Guarantee aims to ensure that every Ohio student reads proficiently by the end of third grade. That goal makes perfect sense. All children need foundational reading skills to succeed in middle and high school and beyond.
Signs of hope for students in East Cleveland
Jessica PoinerThe recently passed state budget created an off-ramp for districts under the control of an
Gadfly Bites 11/15/21—No, it’s SUPER great!
Jeff MurrayIn case you missed it, the state board of education elected a new president and vice president this morning
Gadfly Bites 11/12/21—Captain Ron
Jeff MurrayLet’s start with the best news of the week: A groundbreaking ceremony was held earlier this week for a new charter school in Cincinnati the first IDEA school in t
Gadfly Bites 11/10/21—Defined as an increase or improvement in quality, value, or extent
Jeff MurrayFordham’s own Chad Aldis testified before the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee yesterday on SB 229.