- The wording of this piece makes it sound like Governor DeWine is launching parts of his early literacy proposal RIGHT NOW, including an audit of public school reading curricula in use across the state. This is not the case. As good and necessary as all these things are, they are still just parts of a bill which must have more hearings still. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/23/23) But that does not mean that our literacy lovin’ gov is just sitting around waiting for those proposals to pass in the General Assembly. Yesterday, he attended an early literacy event in Columbus, presented by Ohio Excels, where he touted those legislative proposals…and promised more efforts to support children learning to read that would come to fruition even sooner. (Gongwer Ohio, 3/23/23) Following the event, DeWine traveled to Northridge Elementary School to hear about and to celebrate the district’s successful transition from whole language to the science of reading. How successful? “The district started this school year with 28 percent of kindergarten students on track for reading, and as of March 13, 73 percent of those students were on track. In the 2018-2019 school year, by the end of the school year, 46 percent of kindergarten students were on track.” Not sure how much more evidence y’all need. (Dayton Daily News, 3/23/23) Later, at Lockland Elementary School, those additional efforts became clear as DeWine signed an executive order directing the Governor’s Children’s Initiative to “Develop a program to recognize schools with ‘outstanding instruction’ based on the science of reading; work with state agencies and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Ohio to suggest ways to spur public-private partnerships focused on reading; Develop strategies to boost family involvement in reading; and work with all state agencies to create strategies to aid in the state's efforts to improve reading skills among residents.” Talking the talk and walking the walk too. (News 5 Cleveland, 3/23/23)
- Meanwhile, Ohio’s teachers unions and certain members of the state board of education (you know who I mean) were busy telling the OCJ how they were all in on eliminating the retention provision of the state’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee. Two steps forward, one step back. (Ohio Capital Journal, 3/22/23)
- With all this talk of curriculum and figuring out what’s best for kids, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at how the curricular decision-making process works around here. Luckily, the good folks at Buckeye Local Schools in Medina County are looking for new science curricula for grades four through twelve right now. “When we talk about educating students in the 21st century, we want them to be strong learners,” the district supe said in support of the options explained to his elected school board. “We want them to take control of their education and our teachers become the facilitator of learning.” Take a look and see what you think. (Medina Gazette, 3/23/23)
- There’s nothing but good news here for the financially unstable Say Yes program in Cleveland…unless you actually read the piece all the way to the end. Then the news is all pretty bad. (Cleveland.com, 3/22/23)
- Hmmm. It usually doesn’t happen like this: A shortage of bus drivers closed the entire Northwest Local School district today. However, all the local private, career tech, and neighboring district schools are open as usual and Northwest resident students attending them have transportation provided by the district. So, that’s school choice for the win down there, but at what cost, I wonder? (Local 12 News, Cincinnati, 3/23/23)
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