Voucher critics are at it again
Jessica PoinerIt’s been a banner year for private school choice in Ohio.
Some Ohio schools are facing a teacher shortage. What caused it, and how can it be addressed?
Jessica PoinerOver the last few months, there have been growing concerns over a teacher shortage
Ohio’s 2021 spring tests show that achievement suffered during the pandemic and highlight the importance of in-person learning
Vladimir Kogan, Stéphane LavertuNOTE: 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.
An overview of Ohio’s recently-enacted family-friendly voucher changes
Jessica PoinerFor nearly twenty years, EdChoice has provided tens of thousands of students with the opportunity to attend private schools via state-funded scholarships, also known as vouchers.
What supports do high schoolers need to achieve their college enrollment goals?
Jeff MurrayPost-secondary preparation supports are numerous and common in high schools across the country.
NCTQ sheds light on Ohio teacher licensure exams
Jessica PoinerBefore 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?
No, EdChoice is not the cause of racial segregation
Aaron ChurchillOpponents of school choice in Ohio continue to threaten a lawsuit seeking to eradicate the state’s largest private-school scholarship program, known as
Want great teachers and higher achievement? A study from Wisconsin suggests trying flexible pay.
Aaron ChurchillThe vast majority of Ohio teachers are paid according to salary schedules that reward seniority and degrees earned, the result of state l
What explains the pre-pandemic improvement in Cleveland schools?
Jessica PoinerDuring summer 2012, Governor Kasich signed House Bill 525, legislation that allowed the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to implement a city-wide school turnaround plan.
Gadfly Bites 7/9/21—Exponential
Jeff MurrayOur own Chad Aldis is quoted in this piece from public radio here in Columbus, saying that the new state budget “completely divorced” school report cards from vouche
A new day for Ohio’s school report cards
Aaron ChurchillAfter several years of debate, Ohio lawmakers recently passed a much-needed revamp of the state’s school report card.
Fordham Institute media statement on passage of school report card reform
Ohio Education GadflyToday, the General Assembly passed House Bill 82, legislation that contains comprehensive reforms to the state’s school report card system. In recent years, education groups (including Fordham) have urged the legislature to make improvements to the report card that would make it fairer to schools and easier for Ohioans to understand.
Testimony provided to the Ohio Senate Education Committee on HB 82—6/23/21
Chad L. AldisNOTE: On June 23, 2021, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on Substitute House Bill 82 which would, among other things, ma
Why college entrance exams matter
Jessica PoinerSince the spring of 2017, all Ohio eleventh graders have been required to take either the ACT or the SAT at the state’s expense.
The past, present, and future of summer programs for students
Jeff MurrayAs post-pandemic life cautiously starts to take shape here in America, uncertainty abounds. Will our systems and processes and activities eagerly snap back to their 2019 forms? Or will our lives in 2021 and beyond take on new contours influenced by what we have learned, for good and ill, during the challenges forced upon us by 2020?
Yes, the House’s proposed school rating labels are “actively misleading”
Aaron ChurchillAfter months of debate, state lawmakers continue to mull significant changes to Ohio’s school report card system. Two vastly different proposals to overhaul the report card framework have emerged (House Bill 200 and Senate Bill 145).
What’s next for College Credit Plus?
Aaron ChurchillBack in 2014, Ohio lawmakers overhauled the state’s dual-enrollment program that gives students opportunities to take advanced courses through two- or four-year colleges.
The third grade reading guarantee might be working after all
Aaron ChurchillFirst implemented in the 2013–14 school year, Ohio’s third grade reading guarantee has aimed to ensure that all children have the foundational reading skills needed to navigate more chall
Testimony presented before the Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee on SB 145—5/11/21
Chad L. AldisNOTE: On May 11, the Ohio Senate’s Primary and Secondary Education Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 145, a proposal to revise school and district report cards
Put the kids first, Ohio: It’s time for ESAs
Robert AltAs Ohio’s General Assembly continues working on the biennial state budget, policymakers have the unique chance to pursue meaningful education reform for Ohio’s K–12 students. Given the dark rain clouds of the past fourteen months, we are all grateful to see a silver lining emerging.
Universal ACT and SAT participation is a matter of equal opportunity
Aaron ChurchillOver the past few years, education groups have pushed the General Assembly to walk back the state policy that requires all high school juniors to take the ACT or SAT exam.
An overview of the computer science provisions in the state budget
Jessica PoinerIt’s rare for policies that are proposed in the state budget to sail untouched from the governor’s office through the House and to the Senate—especially if they’ll have a significant impact on the status quo.
Here’s what Columbus City Schools plans to offer students this summer
Jessica PoinerIn February, Governor DeWine asked all public schools to create plans designed to address the learning loss caused by pandemic-related school closures.
Impact of video presentations on learning outcomes in college courses
Jeff MurrayA new report from the Journal of Chemical Education takes a look—pre-pandemic—at the ways in which college students benefited from a new opportunity to participate remotely in their education.
The EdChoice lawsuit is déjà vu all over again
Aaron ChurchillOver the past year, media outlet
Here’s what i-Ready winter diagnostic assessments reveal about unfinished learning
Jessica PoinerAlthough most schools have returned to some semblance of in-person learning for families who want it, education researchers and analysts are still working to gauge the impact of extended school closures.
Governor DeWine’s budget proposal tackles FAFSA completion
Jessica PoinerIf 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.
The Ohio Senate does report card reform right
Aaron ChurchillAnnual school report cards play an important role in healthy, accountable K–12 education systems.
House report card bill deserves an F
Aaron ChurchillFor more than two decades, report cards have offered Ohioans an annual check on the quality of public schools. They have strived to ensure that schools maintain high expectations for all students, to provide parents with a clear signal when standards are not being met, and to identify high-performing schools whose practices are worth emulating.