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Gadfly Bites 3/18/20 – Can-do

Gadfly Bites 3/16/20 – Cobbling together

In case you may have missed it somehow, Governor DeWine told the whole world over the weekend that Ohio’s school year may already be over.

Ohio’s blind spot: Young people’s workforce outcomes

Ohio, like many other states, has made college and career readiness a major priority.

Ohio Charter News Weekly – 3.13.20

DeWine closes DeSchools

Gadfly Bites 3/13/20 – Ish

School’s out. What? Y’all expected me to clip that for you? Not a chance. 

Gadfly Bites 3/11/20 – The true curmudgeon likes and dislikes in equal measure

Sorry to miss out on a Monday edition, but now we’re back with lots to catch up on.

Ohio has a responsibility to raise red flags when schools are failing

It’s no secret that tough accountability measures are out-of-fashion in education circles these days.

Ohio Charter News Weekly – 3.6.20

Start with the big picture

Gadfly Bites 3/6/20 – Bits and Bobs

It’s one of those days where the clips don’t seem to want to cohere into a story of their own, so how about the story of same news, different day? With a side order of “perhaps Murray’s been doing this too long”. 

What Ohio can learn from Delaware about workforce readiness

Last week, I wrote a piece about Pathways, a statewide program in Delaware that offers students the opportunity to complete a progra

A case study in how not to make education policy

In December, a workgroup established by the State Board of Education released a number of

Gadfly Bites 3/4/20 – Voucher Grouchers 13: Expedition

As previously threatened, state supe Paolo DeMaria created Ohio’s “working definition for competency” (that’s definitely code for something) by setting the new graduation

Gadfly Bites 3/2/20 – Vouchers? What vouchers? No one’s talking about vouchers!

Another day, another charter school story that’s so good they didn’t have room to fit the words “charter school” in the printed story.

Delaware’s Pathways program is a good example of how to get workforce development right

In the last few years, a significant number of states have set attainment goals in an attempt to increase the number of adults with a postsecondary certificate, credential, or degree.

Surveying parent-school communications

Effective communication is a two-way street that involves not only sending and receiving information, but also understanding it. Breakdowns can occur at any point. A new report from the Center for American Progress digs into the state of school-to-family communication, looking for strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in this important endeavor.

Ohio Charter News Weekly – 2.28.20

Reinforcing the importance of the CSP

Improving Ohio’s measure of English language progress

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.

Gadfly Bites 2/28/20 – It’s a riddle

In case you missed it, Chad was a panelist at a recent Cleveland event discussing Ohio’s voucher program.

EdChoice furthers state goal of tailoring education to individual students

“Education is not one-size-fits-all” is a common phrase heard in today’s education debates. There’s a good bit of truth to the mantra. Every child is unique in his or her own way, and policies and practices should reflect those differences. To its credit, Ohio acknowledges the importance of tailoring education to the needs of individual students.

Gadfly Bites 2/26/20 – Dismantling

Still in something of a holding (our breath) pattern on EdChoice in Ohio, so let’s talk about some other stuff first. Big news from the world of student wellness funding. Governor DeWine says more money’s coming.

Good education policy can come from all quarters

Last week, the Plain Dealer published a guest commentary about the current state of education policymaking in Ohio.

Hard lessons about SEL implementation

Will social-emotional learning (SEL) be a passing fad, or something that becomes embodied in school culture? The answer likely hinges on whether it’s embraced by parents and educators, and its ability to improve student outcomes.

Gadfly Bites 2/24/20 – Flat, dead facts

Today’s clips are a side trip inside the universe of the voucher grouchers saga; since many of the grouchers are otherwise occupied and we are in something of a lull. Maybe think of it like the gap between production of Return of the Jedi and Phantom Menace.

Ohio Charter News Weekly – 2.21.20

Blocking out the block grant?

Gadfly Bites 2/21/20 – Voucher Grouchers 12: Blink

In EdChoice news: [Sung to the tune of that Hamilton! song] Here Comes the Governor! (Gongwer Ohio, 2/19/20) Seriously, thou

Gadfly Bites 2/19/20 – Voucher Grouchers 11: The Treadmill of Tedious Temerity

The endless hours of EdChoice testimony continued—including this past Saturday and a nearly 10-hour marathon on Presidents Day.

Here’s what parents think about Ohio’s school report cards

For the past several years, there has been a steady push by traditional education groups in Ohio to weaken state accountability and school report cards in particular.

Ohio Charter News Weekly – 2.14.20

Technology good!

Gadfly Bites 2/14/20 – Voucher Grouchers 10: Other Shoes

Updating the voucher groucher saga, the other shoe finally dropped earlier this week when the Senate at last refused to concur in the House’s Christmas stocking full of g

House plan imperils some EdChoice recipients

The raucous debate over school choice took yet another turn last week as the Ohio House approved an amendment that would overhaul the EdChoice program.