- We’ve mentioned previously that Ohio’s “value added” measure is going to undergo some scrutiny in the state legislature. The first round took place this week as “placeholder” HB 524 got its first hearing in the House Education Committee. Prior to the hearing, Fordham was namechecked in this piece looking ahead to the value-added hearing. (Gongwer Ohio, 4/25/16) Additionally, Chad was actually quoted in this piece from The D, summarizing previous discussions about value added and what if anything might augment or replace it. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/26/16) Both the House and Senate Education Committees got a presentation from the Ohio Department of Education on value added – what it is, how it’s calculated, and how its been used on state report cards in the past. Gongwer has a good summary of the presentation and of the testimony from House Ed. More to follow. (Gongwer Ohio, 4/26/16)
- What’s that they say about a free lunch never really being free? Having made the district 100% free lunch last year, Columbus City Schools are now choking down a big old irony burger. They have erased a long-standing deficit in their food service budget (replaced with a healthy surplus thanks to Uncle Sam) while also enriching charters and other schools of choice when droves of Columbus’ “100% poor” students still choose to leave the district and still actually need to be fed. Irony, with a side of bitter. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/26/16) Toledo Public Schools went to 100% free lunch a couple years back, but only for their K-8 population. Perhaps it’s this caveat that kept them from serving cash on a platter to Lucas County charter schools…or perhaps they’re just keeping mum about their own irony burger. The TPS board voted this week to increase next year’s lunch prices for high schoolers who still pay, although they say they are considering expanding free lunch to high school in the future. Perhaps Toledo and Columbus officials should chat first though. Over lunch maybe? (Toledo Blade, 4/27/16)
- It looks like not one but two suburban districts surrounding Columbus are getting ready to challenge the decades-old Win-Win agreement that keeps kids in their suburban districts despite actually living in Columbus. This arrangement has come at a cost for all the suburbs involved for a very long time. Sounds like former-mayor Coleman is going to be earning his retainer on this case. (Columbus Dispatch, 4/26/16)
- Nothing will get charter school haters to call for the shutdown of all charters everywhere faster than staff or volunteers stealing money from students and families, especially when the perpetrator avoids jail… (Lancaster Eagle Gazette, 4/25/16) or high-level school officials refusing to take a call from a reporter. (Dispatch, 4/27/16) Good thing these stories are not about charter schools then, amiright?
