Gadfly Bites 10/12/22—The time of the lawgivers is not nigh

1. As if they did not realize that the state legislature was not currently in session (it’s election season not lawgiving season, dontcha know?), the traditional education establishment held a dog and pony show earlier this week to chivvy the absent lawmakers about passing a bill that would, among other things, eliminate the retention provision of the state’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee, thus rendering it entirely toothless. Many moons ago, when lawmakers did indeed roam the halls of the Statehouse, Fordham’s Chad Aldis testified against the bill and his critique is quoted again in this piece. (WOSU-FM, Columbus, 10/10/22) Coincidentally, we released a new policy brief yesterday with a raft of recommendations (to be considered the next time our legislators are actually in residence in Columbus, of course) aimed at helping our youngest students to read at their best. The brief is referenced and quoted heavily in this piece, and you probably won’t be surprised to know that keeping the retention requirement is high on our list (Dayton Daily News, 10/11/22)
   
   

2. Wowza. Here’s a fairly extreme but super awesome homeschool success story for you, with a side order of “college can actually be free with College Credit Plus”. But you gotta hustle, it seems. (News 5, Cleveland, 10/11/22) Here, in contrast, is a reminder that free college generally ain’t free. I’ll leave you to figure out the difference between these two examples. It shouldn’t take you too long. (Cleveland.com, 10/11/22)
   
   

3. Let’s stay in Cleveland to wind up the day: The Julie Billiart School is on the grow, having purchased a decommissioned district school building in Brecksville to start their fourth campus. Julie Billiart is a Catholic school serving students with disabilities in the Cleveland area and before you ask, yes they do indeed take students on Ohio’s voucher programs. With luck, the new campus will start accepting grades K-4 in fall 2024. Kudos! (Cleveland.com, 10/11/22)

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