Gadfly Bites 11/6/19 – Just in case
Jeff MurrayState Senator Matt Huffman wants Ohio to be “first in line” for a federal private education choice matching program…if it ever actually happens. And last week he introduced legislation to get the ball rolling.
A closer look at Ohio’s independent STEM schools
Jessica PoinerIn response to technological innovations and a rapidly changing economy, schools across the nation have increasingly focused on offering curricula and programs centered around the principles of STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The Cupp-Patterson plan: Lots more resources, no reform
Aaron ChurchillEarlier this month, the Ohio House Finance Committee began hearings on a school funding plan crafted by Representatives Robert Cupp and John Patterson, along with a group
“Just add money” policy proves counterproductive for preschool students
Jeff MurrayA recent working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research looks at the effectiveness of two methods typically used to boost preschool quality—an infusion of funding and an increase in pedagogical supports—and surfaces some eye-opening results.
Gadfly Bites 11/4/19 – It’s your choice, apparently
Jeff MurrayThank heavens election day is tomorrow. I am heartily sick of all this campaign junk taking up space in Ohio’s news outlets.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 11.1.19
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayChanging the game in Parma
Gadfly Bites 11/1/19 – Hot in Cincinnati (and Cleveland too)
Jeff MurrayIn case you had forgotten, there is a hotly contested race for school board in Cincinnati City Schools going on, and I mean “Cincinnati hot”. Thank heavens it will be over by this time next week.
The Nation’s Report Card delivers sobering news to Ohio
Aaron Churchill“Confront the brutal facts (yet never lose faith)” – Jim Collins, Good to Great Cheerleading on schools and students is widespread in K–12 education. Go to a school district website and you’re bound to see something heralding an afterschool program, celebrating an arts initiative, or profiling the most recent teacher of the year.
Gadfly Bites 10/30/19 – “Where we were wasn’t working very well.”
Jeff MurrayOnly two pieces of Bites-worthy news today. First up, from the Is Nothing Sacred?
Gadfly Bites 10/28/19 – To function and thrive in the world
Jeff MurrayAs we have discussed regularly in the Bites over the last five years, there is a fiscal analogue to the state’s efforts at academic oversight in school districts.
Pathway to Success: Arts & College Preparatory Academy creates safe spaces for students to grow
Lyman MillardParents, when surveyed, routinely tell us that safety is one of their top priorities when choosing a school. Although what exactly constitutes a “safe” school likely varies, for many it means a place where children feel welcomed and accepted.
Is Ohio meeting its student achievement goals under ESSA?
Aaron ChurchillBack during the 2016–17 school year, Ohio was in the midst of creating its plan for meeting federal education requirements under the Every Stu
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 10.25.19
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayOhio charters get the cold shoulder from lawmakers
Gadfly Bites 10/25/19 – More arguments
Jeff MurrayAs noted on Wednesday, arguments were heard before the Ohio Supreme Court (sitting in remote Montpelier, Ohio) on the constitutionality of HB 70, the law which created Ohio’s current CEO-st
So far, LeBron’s I Promise School is keeping its promise
Jessica PoinerLast year, NBA superstar LeBron James opened I Promise School (IPS), a school for at-risk kids in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. In its first year (2018–19), IPS served 240 students in grades three and four.
Gadfly Bites 10/23/19 – Systemically scandalous
Jeff MurrayWow. It’s not often we get to welcome brand new media outlets to the family. But the closure of the Youngstown Vindicator really did bring out the next tier of journalistic endeavors, didn’t it?
Gadfly Bites 10/21/19 – Charge it, please, and thank you very much!
Jeff MurrayCall it the Ghost of Gatehouse Past.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 10.18.19
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff MurrayCongratulations to Ohio’s high quality charter schools!
Gadfly Bites 10/18/19 – Pay now or pay later, your choice
Jeff MurrayWe start today with another heartwarming story of a suburban teen entrepreneur. Seventeen-year-old Will Feldman of Bexley runs a business called pausecircleplay.
How Columbus Public Schools revealed a new way to game the state report card
Vladimir KoganAuthor’s correction and update: The original version of this post incorrectly stated that Columbus had increased the minimum test score needed to be classified as “on track” in third-grade reading and to not be placed on a reading improvement and monitoring plan (RIMP).
Lorain scores a federal grant to improve computer science pathways
Jessica PoinerLorain City Schools is no stranger to negative headlines.
The Cupp-Patterson funding plan gives school choice the cold shoulder
Aaron ChurchillNote: This is the fifth in a series of blog posts on school funding in Ohio; for the previous posts, see here,
Gadfly Bites 10/16/19 – The game is afoot! Isn’t it?
Jeff MurrayThe line of demarcation between the board and the teachers of Columbus City Schools was sharply drawn at yesterday’s school board meeting.
Gadfly Bites 10/14/19 – What to do?
Jeff MurraySo your district got a report card grade that reflects badly on you you didn’t like. What can you do? For Fairfield City Schools in Butler County, the answer is take a temperature check.
Gadfly Bites 10/11/19 – Poetry
Jeff MurrayI might be wrong, but I think there’s some big political event coming up here in central Ohio soon. How else to explain today’s dueling editorials in the Dispatch, both aimed squarely at addressing national political rhetoric.
Ohio Charter News Weekly – 10.11.19
Chad L. Aldis, Jeff Murray“Go visit a charter school”
Gadfly Bites 10/9/19 – Oversight
Jeff MurrayHere is a nice profile of Haugland Learning Center in Sandusky, Ohio, a school dedicated to teaching students on the autism spectrum and those with developmental disabilities.
Districts matter, but Ohio shouldn’t ignore school level improvement efforts
Jessica PoinerFor years now, Ohio has been caught in the throes of a fierce debate over how best to improve low-performing school districts.
Gadfly Bites 10/7/19 – And some privilege and some insularity too
Jeff MurrayWe start the week with a personal column in the Marion Times written by a dad who also happens to be a member of the paper