- I’m not sure if reporter Doug Livingston just ran out of words or simply ran out of will, but today’s ABJ story on high performing charter schools is lukewarm at best. After publishing over 4100 words over five hit pieces yesterday, the ABJ manages not quite 1100 words on Akron’s SCOPE Academy, which despite the reporter’s efforts, sounds pretty awesome in structure, support, and outcomes. The story doesn’t end but just kind of peters out in the midst of discussion of Cleveland’s Breakthrough Schools. I look forward to the Beacon Journal’s efforts to ferret out some high-quality district schools to talk about in a follow up piece. (Akron Beacon Journal)
- To say that the outside agitators who blew up Twitter over the weekend failed to understand what the State Board of Education’s Operating Standards Committee was voting on yesterday is an understatement. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed and a vote was taken after a year-long process – required by state law – to review Ohio’s operating standards. Numerous steps remain in the process. But thanks, internet carpetbaggers, for your concern for us rubes here in Ohio. We’re touched. You can check out coverage of the committee’s vote and commentary from board members here. (Gongwer Ohio) You can check out a bit more “sensational” coverage of the issue and the misplaced uproar here. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
- Elsewhere in Columbus yesterday, the House Education Committee heard a bit of testimony from a handful of educators in favor of limiting the amount of testing for students in Ohio. "I can assure you that I know where every student of mine is performing academically,” said a teacher. "Additional testing is not necessary for me to know my students' strengths and weaknesses.” That statement, while likely true, begs some questions which were not asked by legislators. (Gongwer Ohio)
- Finally, the Beavercreek school board voted yesterday to accept as a gift from FedEx a decommissioned Boeing 727 airplane. The intention is to convert it to a STEM classroom for students anywhere to visit and study in. It would be just the third such airplane conversion project in the United States. “That aircraft is just a bundle of math and science,” said a former educator who is spearheading all three projects. Well said, ma’am. Now buckle your seatbelts and put your tray tables up. Prepare for science! (Dayton Daily News)
