- As noted earlier in the week, the first installment of school and district report card data was released yesterday. As Patrick O’Donnell tells us: The results released “reflect only graduation rates, how well kids do on college exams like the ACT and SAT and how well schools help kids that have trouble reading in the early grades.” Big stuff, yes, but new calculations and incomplete data make it difficult for analysts to really dig in. Case in point, perennial report analysts the Thomas B. Fordham Institute (ugh, not those guys again), whom Patrick points out will not be publishing their analysis until more information is out and it can be properly parsed. Don’t worry Aaron, we still love you. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1/14/16)
- We all know that the world of education in Ohio loves change and so, as you can imagine, everyone is thrilled and delighted by yesterday’s data dump. I jest, of course. A quarter of the data is already under review at the request of districts who feel this or that measure is not accurate, many districts are throwing up their hands as to what any of the ratings mean, and other supes and spokespeople are reminding us that all of this information is “irrelevant” anyway. Variations on those themes can be found in report card stories from central Ohio (Columbus Dispatch, 1/14/16), Southwest Ohio (Cincinnati Enquirer, 1/14/16), and the Toledo area (Toledo Blade, 1/14/16) among others.
- The reception of said report card data is a bit different in Youngstown City Schools. The district's four-year and five-year graduation rates are at the bottom of the scale, but they are celebrating a 15 point jump in their K-3 literacy measure. As noted above, folks are still parsing just what these measures mean, but 15 points is likely nothing to sneeze at in Youngstown. (Youngstown Vindicator, 1/15/16).
- Prior to the celebrations, the Vindy sat down for a short chat with Brian Benyo, putative chair of the putative new Youngstown Academic Distress Commission. Why all the putation? Because the ADC is on hold pending a court case – hopefully some movement next week – hinging on the definition of “teacher”. Anyway, Mr. Benyo seems a sincere person who is raring to lead in the latest effort to improve Youngstown City Schools. But he and whatever commissioners end up being impaneled have got a long, slow uphill slog. When you’ve got to start your tenure like this – “The biggest thing he tried to espouse was that no one is trying to do anything that would be detrimental to the school district” – you are using baby steps to summit the Matterhorn and starting in the parking lot next door. (Youngstown Vindicator, 1/14/16)
- The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission is still working thoroughly and efficiently upon its charge, and its Education, Public Institutions and Local Government Committee heard from the president of the state board of education this week. He says he was speaking as a private citizen when he told them he felt that the state board should have a reduced role in education policy in the state (Columbus Dispatch, 1/15/16) and when he told them he felt that the state’s governor should appoint all board members. Cue gasps! (Gongwer Ohio, 1/14/16)
