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
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