- As we approach the end of the year, expect a lot of “looking back” articles from reporters across the state. Usually there’s not a lot new in these pieces – making life difficult for clipsters like myself – but here’s an interesting one. The former chair of the academic distress commission overseeing Youngstown City Schools looks back on her time in the (very) hot seat and on what’s happened in the six months since she left the commission. Not much has changed for the district academically – for which the former chair seems to blame the “shifting target” of success indicators – but the commission itself has taken some serious steps to curb the influence of the Board of Education since she left. Fascinating, and a bit sad. (Youngstown Vindicator)
- The president and CEO of Innovation Ohio has a guest commentary in the Blade today, ostensibly rebutting the pro-charter school commentary from the president of the Ohio Alliance of Public Charter Schools published two weeks ago. But honestly, after the last two weeks of high-quality data, specific recommendations, media attention, and political support for real change in Ohio’s charter sector, this piece just comes off as tired, slanted, and behind the times. (Toledo Blade)
- Perhaps I’m missing something here? Public Broadcasting’s American Graduate program pulled into Cleveland last week and held what is presented in this piece as a “pep rally” for a group of eighth graders from a low-income neighborhood in the city. It appears that a group described as “college students with similar backgrounds” to the audience members was on hand to encourage the Cleveland students to persevere through their challenges (especially family and home life challenges) and get through high school and into college. Is that it though? Encouragement? “If I can do it, you can do it, kid”? I am hoping that this report is simply a brief summary (NPR shilling for its parent organization?) and that much more was shared about what actual mechanisms and programs and supports are available to young people who need them – things I know for sure exist in abundance in Cleveland. I must admit that I’ve not heard of this initiative before today, and perhaps I’m not the target audience for this story anyway, but I came away from this piece unsettled and with way more questions than answers. (StateImpact Ohio)
