- The 2014 CREDO report “Charter Performance in Ohio”, paid for by Fordham, is cited and our own Chad Aldis is quoted in this Politico piece on the education record of presidential candidate (and Ohio Governor) John Kasich. (Politico, 3/14/16)
- Our “Facing Facts” report analyzing Ohio’s report card data garnered a couple more notices. The folks at Gongwer took a long look at the report and seem to have found it interesting and informative. Not sure what’s up with that urban district teacher job fair notice tacked on at the bottom. Probably meant to be a separate story, but you have been informed. (Gongwer Ohio, 3/11/16) With journalist Doug “Dog” Livingston off dogging politicians instead of education folk these days, it falls to the ABJ editorial staff to “report” on K-12 issues. This includes editorial page editor Michael “Dog” Douglas, who perused our “Facing Facts” report before opining positively on the value of Ohio’s report card data. Maybe he was so positive because of the relatively-high value added scores of some otherwise-maligned Akron schools. Or maybe it was something Aaron said. Whatever the reason, new “Dog” is definitely going against the prevailing narrative on Ohio’s report cards currently being peddled in most of journalism and K-12 education. (Akron Beacon Journal, 3/14/16)
- I jest of course in the above note on the ABJ bucking the prevailing narrative on Ohio’s report cards. But only a tiny bit. Please see this story from Saturday’s Plain Dealer for more on that prevailing narrative. Brought to you by the words “distrust”, “broken”, “inquiry”, “complaints”, “disconnect”, and “throw out”. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/12/16)
- It is Pi Day, but that doesn’t matter much to the K-12 beat reporters and editorial page editors here in Ohio. What matters is that this is the start of “Sunshine Week”, wherein disinfectant is uppermost on folks’ minds. There are a number of stories across the press on this, but I like this one from the Canton Rep, which basically orders folks to go to their local schools and request records this week, with a giant list of what’s available. Like a shopping list. Ask early, ask often, I say. How else can you tell this is serious business? Because there’s a logo. (Canton Repository, 3/13/16)
[[{"fid":"115749","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default"},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"style":"height: 113px; width: 200px;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
- Speaking of sunshine, more clouds over Columbus City Schools have parted and a ray of light is shining down, specifically upon the district’s special education services. A corrective action plan has been in place for the district since one of the many investigations into grade and attendance tampering uncovered a raft of problems (“fraud and ineptitude”, so the D says) in the district’s provision of and record keeping around services for students with special needs. Well, the Ohio Department of Education says that Columbus has licked the problem and things are now hunky dory in this area. Oversight will continue but at a far less obtrusive level. Gotta be good news to a district looking for a levy. (What was that opposition slogan last time? “No charters, no….” What was it?”) Anywho, clearly great news for CCS, levy or no levy. Now, about the rest of you urban districts in Ohio… (Columbus Dispatch, 3/14/16)
- Back in the real world, the robot-building, mission-coding geek-warriors of Dayton Early College Academy continue on a roll in First Robotics League competition. After winning the region over the weekend, they are off to the World Competition (skipping a step, methinks, but what do I know about any sport-like leagues?) in St. Louis next month. Kudos! (WDTN-TV, Dayton, 3/12/16)
