Commentary
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Commentary
Governance
Moving to prosperity but leaving big questions behind
The Move to PROSPER project is a new initiative by a consortium of organizations led by the Ohio State University to provide a path to stability for some of the least stable families in central Ohio—namely, low-income single-parent households with one or more school age children.
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 4/9/18 – Negotiation
We start the week with good news—Dayton’s bus drivers appear to have overwhelmingly agreed to a new contract with the district. Barring anything unforeseen, that is.
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 4/6/18 - With friends like these...
You may recall a breathless flap earlier this year over third grade reading test scores which were suspected of being mis-graded by a computer. It was hard to miss, seeing as how is it was all over the news. What was not all over the news at any point since then was how the human regrading of those third grade tests turned out.
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Commentary
Governance
3 things to like (and 3 not to like) about Ohio’s education deregulation bill
Scrapping regulations that burden schools, have little to do with student learning, and restrict local flexibility and autonomy is a worthy undertaking. Over the past few years, Ohio legislators have taken small but commendable steps in providing regulatory relief for public schools.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 4/4/18 - Yay and yawn
Herewith: the new leader (and the revamped mission) of FutureReady Columbus. (Columbus Monthly, 4/2/18)
Commentary
Governance
Reflections on the K-12 education policy world (and goodbye)
Like any life transition, preparing for a new job and saying farewell to colleagues and allies offers a bittersweet window of time to reflect. I’m sitting in that window now. Having finished almost a decade in the Ohio K–12 education policy space and my second stint at Fordham Ohio, I’m shifting into the early childhood policy domain.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 4/2/18 - No foolin'
I believe there is a headline error in this piece looking at the precarious state of play in Trotwood Schools after several years of poor report cards and attempts to remedy that problem. See if you can spot it. (Dayton Daily News, 4/2/18)
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/30/18 - Advanced brain drain
It’s spring break in Dayton City Schools, but that doesn’t mean things are quiet in the district.
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/28/18 - Candor
Well, well, well. Nothing official here, but it is nice to hear the President of the Ohio Senate say that Ohio’s current participation-trophy graduation requirements should not be extended to the Classes of 2019 and 2020. Without “a good reason”, that is. (Gongwer Ohio, 3/26/18)
Commentary
Accountability & Testing
Ohio shouldn’t walk back new equity measures for students
Ohio’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan doesn’t include many changes to the state’s current accountability system, but it does make some meaningful adjustments that improve equity within the state.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/26/18 – Yeah, what he said
The bill which proposes, among other things, a consolidation of Ohio’s K-12, higher ed, and workforce development governance structures was the topic of dueling op-eds in the Dispatch this weekend. Fordham’s Aaron Churchill provided the case in support of the proposal.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/23/18 - Like night and day
The bill which proposes to, among other things, consolidate the state’s K-12, higher ed, and workforce development governance apparatus is still the talk of the state for some reason. Lots of folks in Northeast Ohio are opposed for some reason.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/21/18 - “Dealing With This Thing Called College”
The General Assembly’s Joint Education Oversight Committee is back in action this week (!) after a three month hiatus. This week’s meeting under a new chair will reevaluate priorities and sound out some issues to pursue for the future. Hope they can think of some good ones.
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Commentary
Governance
Creating an early graduation scholarship for high-achieving students
Ohio policymakers are currently wrestling with a slew of issues related to transitions from high school to college or career.
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/19/18 - What's that in the wood chipper?
It was learned late last week that Youngstown CEO Krish Mohip is not only looking to Colorado for a new gig but also to North Dakota. He is one of four finalists for superintendent of Fargo Public Schools. Weren’t there any good gigs up for grabs in Alaska, dude?
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/14/18 - Curious choices
COMPILER'S NOTE: Gadfly Bites is taking a break until Monday. See you next week.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/12/18 - Distress
Editors in Youngstown opined this weekend on the seeming chaos wrought by the resignations of 3/5 of the Academic Distress Commission in the last week.
Commentary
Teachers & School Leaders
Addressing language acquisition issues for bilingual children
Despite genetic hardwiring of babies’ brains to learn language, emerging evidence suggests that different languages are acquired in different ways based on their specific characteristics. Most of what child development and education professionals know about language acquisition in young children is based on monolingual studies and is difficult to apply to bilingual children.
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Commentary
Governance
Ohio’s capital budget pays for stadiums and barns, but not charter schools
Ohio legislators recently unveiled a $2.6 billion capital budget bill for fiscal years 2019 and 2020. Inside this year’s iteration are routine items like park and correctional facilities maintenance.
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/9/18 - As you may recall...
In case you missed it, the House Bill that proposes to consolidate state oversight of pre-K, K-12, and workforce development into one agency had a hearing earlier this week. Fordham’s own Chad Aldis was on hand to provide testimony in support of the bill.
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Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/5/18 - The “full range” indeed
A new statewide online school is launching in Ohio next school year. Great news for families looking for a choice. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/2/18)
Commentary
Governance
Gadfly Bites 3/2/18 - Repent!
And then there was one. The current superintendent of Akron City Schools let it be known earlier this week that he was removing himself from consideration to become the next superintendent of Columbus City Schools. But thanks for the consideration.
Commentary
Governance
Moving Ohio towards a more coherent K–16 governance model
Two weeks ago, several lawmakers introduced legislation that proposes a major restructuring of education governance in Ohio.