- With the announcement last week that Dayton City Schools would offer a fully online learning option along with some version of in-person classes in the fall, it is now up to parents to decide which of these they want for their children. The more information they are given—the online version is going to be an off-the-shelf, video-based thing without a live teacher; the in-class plans include only 2 feet of social distancing rather than 6; lunch, recess, sports, and extracurriculars are all likely to be up-in-the-air for a good while yet; and the fact that once an option has been selected, there’s likely no backsies—the harder I assume the decision becomes. (Dayton Daily News, 6/28/20) How about some non-district school choice, Dayton parents? I assume that’s an easier decision if it means 6-year-olds attending charter and private schools will have to take RTA to get there….which is probably the point. (WDTN-TV, Dayton, 6/25/20)
- Teachers in Dayton, as per their union president, seemed to have a problem with every option currently under discussion there. In northeast Ohio, it seems the mood among teachers (union presidents) is worry over things not yet decided by the state (specifically, a “compressed” standards plan they themselves are pushing). “That’s the thing about teachers, they always know that things can change,” said the union prez from Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools (these guys again?). “It’s not like they’re not used to change and adapting.” Yes indeed. They can change from amorphous worriers to full on grouchers at the drop of a hat. (Cleveland.com, 6/29/20)
- Filtering out a bit more slowly these days: the opinions of parents. Here’s a quick look at the results of a University of Michigan survey expressing parental views on next school year from Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. While the results seem to be kinda down-the-middle on things like masks and social distancing, but the least popular safety measures are closing playground equipment (30 percent support) and eliminating extracurricular activities such as sports and music (27 percent). (Bridge Michigan, 6/29/20)
- The Senate Education Committee was last week discussing what sounds like a “rescue” effort for an online charter school facing financial troubles. Specifically, it is a dropout prevention and recovery charter based in Lebanon, Ohio. The amendment under construction would likely create a temporary new funding formula for such schools (and maybe even just that one school), solely for Fiscal Year 2021. Why all this effort for a charter school? Turns out that “public school districts in the county support the e-school and want it to remain afloat.” Wow. When’s the last time you heard that around here? (Gongwer Ohio, 6/26/20)
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