Gadfly Bites 9/24/21—The high cost of normality
Jeff MurrayWe start our Friday clips with a trio of STEM-related stories.
Voucher critics are at it again
Jessica PoinerIt’s been a banner year for private school choice in Ohio.
Gadfly Bites 9/22/21—Getting all the headlines…and then digging deeper
Jeff MurrayFordham’s Chad Aldis was extensively quoted in Crain’s this week—along with other commentators—discussing legislative changes recently wrought upon school funding, school choice programs, and state report cards.
Suburban school districts can help urban students succeed
Aaron ChurchillIt’s no secret that many of the best public schools are located in America’s leafy suburbs. They’re typically staffed by well-trained teachers, boast up-to-date textbooks and technology, and offer advanced and specialized coursework.
Gadfly Bites 9/20/21—Creating your own goals
Jeff MurrayPlease don’t let the focus of this piece on school transportation woes in central Ohio school districts fool you. Numerous issues of accuracy and lateness have been building in districts large and small for years—long before anyone ever heard of SARS-CoV-2.
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
Gadfly Bites 9/17/21—No more dessert desert
Jeff MurrayOne unforeseen consequence of broadening free lunch for schools is, apparently, that there is not enough of certain foods to go around.
Can Ohio solve the school transportation riddle?
Aaron ChurchillEvery student ought to have safe, reliable transportation to a school that meets their needs. Recognizing this, Ohio law has long required districts to offer transportation to all resident students in grades K–8 who live more than two miles from their school—whether that’s a district, charter, private, or STEM school.
Gadfly Bites 9/15/21—The easy A
Jeff MurrayThe recent report by Ohio State University Professors Kogan and Lavertu—putting some very sobering numbers on pandemic-influenced learning loss in the Buckeye State—received national coverage from AEI’s blo
Gadfly Bites 9/13/21—Creatively innovative
Jeff MurrayHere is a decade-long program in central Ohio whereby a third-party nonprof
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 9.10.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayOhio Charter News Weekly is back from a brief hiatus and we’re catching up on all the news you can use from 8/27 to today! While we were out
Gadfly Bites 9/10/21—Never call a double-dog dare when you don’t know what you’re talking about
Jeff MurrayA recent research paper review—on the topic of pandemic-era academic impacts on students—written by Fordham’s Jessica Poiner became the law of the land in Ohio when it was linked and quoted in Gongwer the oth
Gadfly Bites 9/8/21—Painful switch
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites is back back back! Sorry about that, y’all.
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 new school funding formula, and a look at whether it might stick
Aaron ChurchillAt the end of June, Ohio lawmakers passed House Bill 110, the biennial operating budget for FYs 2022–23. It included a new school funding framework that received bipartisan support and was backed by school district officials and teachers unions.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 8.27.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayOhio Charter News Weekly will be on hiatus next week; returning on 9/10/21. Kudos
Gadfly Bites 8/25/21—Tears, no tears, and happy tears
Jeff MurrayGadfly Bites will be on vacation for a bit, you lucky readers; but your luck runs out on 9/8/21 when it all starts again.
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.
Gadfly Bites 8/23/21—“A great challenge”
Jeff MurraySchools across the Miami Valley areas, including charter and private schools, are finding it even more challenging than usual, they say, in filling
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.
Gadfly Bites 8/20/21—From summer into autumn
Jeff MurrayHere’s the final look at Columbus City Schools’ summer program this year, including the news that 112 of the 412 seniors in the class of 2021 w
Gadfly Bites 8/18/21—Built to last
Jeff MurrayWe will top and tail today’s edition of the Bites with two “say what?” clips.
Big opportunities await Ohio’s next state superintendent
Aaron ChurchillEarlier this summer, Ohio’s state superintendent Paolo DeMaria announced his retirement, effective in September.
Gadfly Bites 8/16/21—BTS
Jeff MurrayThe Dispatch is celebrating the first day of school today—for a year that they characteri
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?
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 8.13.21
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayForward motion in West Virginia