- Kinda quiet this weekend in terms of education news stories. First up, two previews of state board of ed action to occur this week. It appears that board members will hold their noses and approve a proposed set of criteria defining the term “consistently high-performing teacher”. Neither the committee that came up with the criteria nor the board members who have to vote on it seem all that thrilled with what is before them. Why are they going to vote for it then? Because they are required by law to set a definition by July 1 and this is what there is to vote on. Inspiring (Gongwer Ohio, 6/10/16) Also on the agenda this week, adjust the cut scores for two new high school end-of-course math exams that students took this spring. We told you last week that the initial results didn’t look so promising. So the question before the board is to keep the cut scores high and have loads of kids not pass, or lower the cut scores so larger numbers pass. This is such an important issue that our own Chad Aldis weighed in, landing on the side that says that “Diplomas have to mean something.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 6/12/16)
- As noted here on Friday, editor Louis B. Free and reporter Denise Dick interviewed new Youngstown Schools CEO Krish Mohip on Vindy Radio. It was a lengthy and wide-ranging interview and Mohip was willing to answer every question…to the extent that he could. Check out a summary of the interview from Saturday’s print edition of the Vindy. It includes some history of the Youngstown Plan, which led to the creation of the CEO post, and a reminder that there are at least two court cases still active that could put a serious crimp in Mohip’s plans. (Youngstown Vindicator, 6/11/16) I urge you to spend the time listening to the full interview via their podcast. I find it interesting what the paper chose to emphasize vs. what they chose to leave out. Maybe you will too. (Vindy Radio, 6/10/16)