Social studies exams shouldn’t be first on the chopping block
Aaron ChurchillSome Ohio lawmakers and educators recently proposed to roll back the state’s social studies exams, which presently include tests in fourth and sixth grade and end-of-course assessments (EOCs) for high-school students in both U.S. history and government. The proposals come from two avenues.
Ohio teacher preparation programs shine in new ranking
Jessica PoinerFor years, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has released reports that rate and compare hundreds of teacher preparation programs across the country.
Four questions to answer before “fixing” Ohio’s graduation requirements
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.
Interdistrict Open Enrollment in Ohio: Participation and Student Outcomes
Interdistrict open enrollment allows students to attend public schools outside their district of residence. It is among the largest and most widespread of school-choice efforts in the United States but often flies under the radar in policy discussions. In Ohio, over 70,000 students open enroll into schools outside their district of residence.
Three problems with Ohio’s performance-based funding for schools
Aaron ChurchillPerformance-based funding in the public sector has begun to take root in recent years, most prominently in higher education and in merit-pay plans for some teachers.
All teachers prepare young people for the working world
Jeff MurrayNOTE: This blog was first published in a slightly different form on The 74 on 5/12/17.
Self-efficacy, test anxiety, and academic success
Jeff MurrayCan a student be so anxious that she can “psych herself out” when it comes to test performance? Can the perceived stakes be so high that no amount of test preparation could overcome the fear of failure?
Testimony given before the state board of education – 4/11/17
Chad L. AldisNOTE: The state board of education today debated the recent report of a graduation requirements workgroup. Among those providing testimony on the state’s high school graduation requirements was Chad L. Aldis, Vice President for Ohio Policy and Advocacy here at Fordham. The following are his written remarks.
Hits and a miss: Ohio’s Educator Standards Board recommends teacher evaluation changes
Jessica PoinerIn March, Ohio’s Educator Standards Board (ESB) released six recommendations for revising the
Ohio’s assessment committee is stacked
Aaron Churchill“Government by the people” is one of the most powerful ideas in American government. It represents the belief that, in a democracy, the people hold sovereignty over government and not the reverse.
Do grades or test scores better predict new students’ success in credit-bearing college courses?
Jeff MurrayA recent report from Education Northwest extends previous research by the same lead researcher, drilling down into the same dataset in order to fine-tune the original findings.
Ohio Education By the Numbers--2017 Edition
Aaron ChurchillThis guidebook offers simple and easy-to-use vital statistics about Ohio’s schools and the students they serve. The facts and figures contained within this report offer an overview of who Ohio’s students are; where they go to school; how they perform on national and state exams; and how many pursue post-secondary education.
Easing the growing pains of College Credit Plus
Jessica PoinerOne of the big Ohio education stories of 2016 was the growing popularity of College Credit Plus (CCP), a program that provides students three ways to earn college credit from public or participating private
Pathway to Success: KIPP Columbus takes seriously its mission to send kids to and through college
KIPP Columbus achieves extraordinary outcomes for its students, predominantly students in poverty and students of color. Led by Hannah Powell and a visionary board, the school has a rare knack for forging powerful partnerships at every turn—ones that strengthen KIPP students, their families, and the entire community near its campus.
Setting Sights on Excellence: Ohio’s School Report Cards, 2015-16
Aaron ChurchillOn September 15, Ohio released report cards for approximately 600 school districts and 3,500 public schools (district and charter). These report cards are based on state exam results from the 2015-16 school year, along with several other gauges of student success.
Reflections on gifted education from the Olympics, part 2: What we can contribute
Throughout the recent Olympic Games, I reflected on the parallels between elite-level athletics and gifted education, and I thought how much we could learn about developing exceptional ability from what we saw during those two weeks.
Facing facts: Ohio's school report cards in a time of rising expectations
Aaron ChurchillA deep dive into the performance of Ohio’s public schools, statewide and in its eight largest urban areas
2015 Fordham Sponsorship Annual Report
The 2015 Fordham Sponsorship Annual Report is our opportunity to share the Fordham Foundation’s work as the sponsor of eleven schools serving approximately 3,200 students in five cities, and our related policy work in Ohio and nationally.
Policy Brief: Pathways to Teaching in Ohio
Jessica PoinerA thorough overview of how teachers are trained and licensed
Establishing a baseline: Ohio’s education system as it enters a new era
Christen Holly, Brendan YorkeLike other states, Ohio has over the past few years put into place a standards a
Policy Brief: The Ohio Teacher Evaluation System
Jessica PoinerA thorough overview of Ohio's teacher evaluation framework
The ABCs of ADCs: An in-depth look at the new academic distress commission legislation
Jessica PoinerA new tool for school district reform
Getting Out of the Way: Education Flexibility to Boost Innovation and Improvement in Ohio
Paolo DeMaria, Brinton S. Ramsey, Susan R. BodaryFor the past year, Ohio policymakers have been grappling with the issue of deregulating public schools. But what does deregulation mean--and how should policymakers go about doing it?
Ohio House proposes changes in testing, vouchers, and teacher evaluation
Jessica Poiner, Chad L. AldisLooking beyond the "big issues" in Ohio's budget bill
National Board Certification and Teacher Effectiveness: Evidence from Washington
Jessica PoinerAre National Board Certified Teachers more effective than their non-certified counterparts?
Should districts get rid of middle schools?
Jessica PoinerDoes middle school really stink?
The promise of mastery grading (continued)
Jessica PoinerPros and cons of mastery-based education
How to fix teacher evaluations
Jessica PoinerOhio can learn an important lesson on teacher evaluation without descending into the same fight going on in New York