- Here are some things we learned during this week’s state board of education meeting. Ohio’s learning standards are still in the process of being revised. Said the dude from ODE: "We're looking for revisions, not a debate on whether you like standards-based education.” Not everyone got that memo, it seems. (Gongwer Ohio, 2/9/16) The next permanent state supe is still in process of being selected. A lack of consensus among board members on things like the qualifications required of applicants and pay level could hold up said process for a long time. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/9/16) ODE is still figuring out how to handle school report cards in the face of parents opting their children out of testing. Looks like they are going to be giving schools two different grades – one with untested students getting “zeroes” and one with untested students not being counted at all. Nothing could go wrong with that, could it? (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/9/16)
- Meanwhile, editors in Cleveland PD opine with a vote of no-confidence in the Ohio Department of Education with regard to charter schools. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/9/16)
- We all know the old SchoolHouse Rock tune about how a bill becomes a law. But the impetus for new laws can come from unlikely sources. To wit, HB 401, currently “sittin’ in committee”, which would impel private schools in Ohio to publicly disclose certain pieces of information – like cashflow, enrollment, and background check policies. Its impetus was, apparently, the question many folks ask themselves: “Why would any school send you on a goat rodeo to get basic information?” Indeed, why? (Cincinnati Enquirer, 2/10/16)
- Speaking of background checks, a high school coach in Fairborn City Schools had his job offer rescinded after the school board did a background search on him. “The first priority would be to Google search any candidate like that,” said a district spokesperson. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen until several days AFTER he was hired. The search continues in Fairborn, but I think this is a teaching moment for the members of the state board of ed. Hands off the Bing button, you guys. And Siri won’t cut it either. (Dayton Daily News, 2/10/16)
- We heard earlier this week that passing the GED is getting easier in response to a steep drop in the number of folks passing in recent years. Here’s an alternative to GEDs also available for folks without diplomas – the Adult Diploma Recovery program, which allows adults to earn full diplomas from their former high schools. Sounds like the two women interviewed could well benefit from the program. Take a look. (Columbus Dispatch, 2/9/16)
- It seems there is something of a gadfly serving on the Youngstown board of education these days. No, not THAT gadfly. Meet Dario Hunter, who is still bothered by the deciding vote on a further appeal of the definition of “teacher” being cast by the board president’s son…in regard to the hiring of their mutual cousin. He seems pretty sparky in the exchange recorded here; we’ll see if he’s got the proper “intestinal fortitude” to keep it up. (Youngstown Vindicator, 2/10/16)
