- Our own Chad Aldis was a guest on All Sides with Ann Fisher again yesterday. Unsurprisingly, the topic was charter schools. Specifically, “The Performance and Outcomes of Online Schools”. Not a bad hour of talk radio, even if Chad doesn’t come in until the half-way point. But listen especially for the couple of times when Chad takes the show “off script”. Pretty good. (WOSU-FM, Columbus, 5/26/16)
- Speaking of charter schools, the data wonks over at KnowYourCharter released a new report yesterday looking at previous federal Charter School Program (CSP) grants received by Ohio…in exactly the same way that wolves look at henhouses. The message seems to be that lots of schools that received CSP grants either never opened or closed after receiving grants, raising questions to which the wolves would like an answer. Here’s one not answered: why are so many of the closed schools affiliated with school districts? The report got a little bit of play in the media. Chad’s response is quoted in response in all of these pieces, as is the response of the Ohio Department of Education (which I love, BTW): “This department has no interest in playing partisan politics with a special interest group.” The PD was first out of the gate. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 5/26/16). Dayton Daily News actually called Chad for a reaction so he’s got a bit more real estate. (Dayton Daily News, 5/26/16) And the folks at Gongwer (bless them) were among the few to attend the Columbus press conference that launched the report. (Gongwer Ohio, 5/26/16)
- It is not labeled as such, but I have to assume this is an editorial. As such, I will refrain from commenting on just how odd I find it to be. I’ll just say that editors in Youngstown appear to be very excited about graduation season. So much so that they say nice things about Fordham and give us far too much credit for categorizing Youngstown Early College High School as awesome. It is, but don’t take our word for it. Seriously; don’t. (Youngstown Vindicator, 5/27/16)
- Editors in Columbus opined again about rumors that charter school accountability in Ohio may be weakened. They are against that, in case you didn’t know. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/26/16)
- Making quick work of a big pile, the Youngstown Academic Distress Commission whittled the CEO candidates down to two finalists. Neither of them is the current interim supe. A decision is expected quickly. (Youngstown Vindicator, 5/26/16) Meanwhile, I think I hear fiddling from the board room. (Youngstown Vindicator, 5/26/16)
- Out of the Box Academy seems pretty cool to me. It is a private program for students with special needs, seems to have a good track record of success, and it is moving to a fantastic-looking new facility in North Akron to better serve their students. One slight omission in an otherwise-good story is that Out of the Box takes both Autism and Jon Peterson Scholarships. Just sayin’. (Akron Beacon Journal, 5/26/16)
