Ohio auditor’s report on teacher pension system raises concerns, no illegalities

In December, the Ohio Auditor of State released a special audit of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS).

Casting a wide net to help define teacher expertise

We 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.

To address teacher shortages, Ohio needs better data

Over the last few years, dozens of Ohio school districts have expressed growing concern

It’s time to shine a light on Ohio’s Resident Educator Program

Starting a teaching career is no easy feat. There are students and staff to get to know, curricula to learn, school routines and expectations to get acquainted with, and a host of other challenges. For many novice teachers, the first few years can be overwhelming enough to push them out of the profession entirely.

Could scholarships and loan forgiveness help Ohio diversify the teaching profession?

Research is clear that a more diverse teaching force can improve a wide range of student

Why and how Ohio should tackle teacher wellness

The mental health crisis has been a persistent headline over the last few years, as research and

Investing in the teacher workforce

Can Ohio clean up its teacher pension mess?

Ohio’s teacher pension system is woefully underfunded, imposes significant costs on teachers and schools, and shortc

The romance versus the reality of teacher pensions

Pensions, a promise of guaranteed lifetime income for retirees, have been around since antiquity.

What do teachers know about their retirement benefits?

How many teachers know even the basics about their retirement plan? Too few according to a recent study by Dillon Fuchsman of Saint Louis University and Josh McGee and Gema Zemarro of the University of Arkansas.

A window on teachers’ hybrid work experience in the first phase of the pandemic

Just like the term “virtual schooling,” the moniker “hybrid learning”—which came to the fore at the start of Covid disruptions—does not denote one educational model.

Some Ohio schools are facing a teacher shortage. What caused it, and how can it be addressed?

Over the last few months, there have been growing concerns over a teacher shortage

NCTQ sheds light on Ohio teacher licensure exams

Before they can stand in front of a classroom full of students, most prospective teachers have to pass state licensure exams. But how many candidates pass those exams on the first try and how many need multiple attempts? Which schools fare best at readying their students for these exams?

Want great teachers and higher achievement? A study from Wisconsin suggests trying flexible pay.

The vast majority of Ohio teachers are paid according to salary schedules that reward seniority and degrees earned, the result of state l

Governor DeWine’s budget proposal tackles FAFSA completion

If Ohio is going to continue making progress toward Attainment Goal 2025, a larger percentage of Ohio’s K–12 graduates must enroll in postsecondary programs and earn a degree or credential.

Districts should use student wellness funds to track down and support Covid’s missing students

It’s no secret that the pandemic has been extraordinarily difficult on education. Reopening decisions, complex in-person safety protocols, virtual school, and the specter of learning loss have made the past year tough.

Three things leaders need to get right before next school year

It might seem far away, but the 2021–22 school year is just around the corner. In a few short months, students will be gearing up for summer break—and using that time wisely has never been more important. This fall will be similarly significant.

An important study on teacher value-added, marred by dubious conclusions

A new report from Portland State University sociologist Dara Shifrer digs into the value-added data of thousands of teachers who switched schools and concludes that value-added measures reflect the socio-economic status of students and thus cannot be used to accuratel

Here’s how the Biden administration wants to help teachers with student loans

In the last week, there’s been a flurry of discussion around what the incoming Biden administration could do for student loan borrowers.

How to point Ohio teachers toward a brighter retirement

The fiscal woes of state pension systems are regularly in the news.

Default settings matter: A recap of Fordham’s teacher pensions event

This week, Fordham released its latest report, an analysis of the three retirement options available for Ohio teachers.

Will the pandemic cause a teacher shortage in Ohio?

When coronavirus turned everything upside down this spring, there were predictions that educators would retire in droves rather than risk teaching during a pandemic.

Schools need talented teachers. Here’s how to find them in these challenging times.

There are no silver bullets when it comes to closing achievement gaps. But there are inputs and interventions with solid evidence bases, and the impact of a good teacher is one of them.

To deal with coronavirus fallout, we need talented teachers

In the last six months, as the nation has struggled in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been a lot of controversy and disagreement over what schools need

Portrait of the teaching force in America

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently published the latest data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), conducted during the 2017–18 school year. It gives us an important snapshot of today’s teaching force in both public and private schools.

Columbus audit offers sobering lessons for Ohio teacher evaluations

Editor’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.

Young, talented teachers shouldn’t be first to be fired

Due to plummeting tax revenues, Governor Mike DeWine last week announced plans to slash state spending for the current fiscal year, ending June 30. Among the cost-cutting includes a $355 million hit to K–12 education, a roughly 3 percent reduction in education outlays. With the economy still swooning, legislators are mulling deeper cuts for 2020–21.

NCTQ shines a light on teacher contracts, licensure during the pandemic

In the last few weeks, schools have rightfully been focused on student nutrition, health, and the transition to distance learning. But flying under the radar—and of increasing importance to schools’ ability to serve students well—are teacher policy issues. How has the pandemic affected current and aspiring teachers, and what are states and local districts doing to respond?