- Following last week’s firestorm over its charter school sponsor review process, ODE on Friday rescinded all previously-announced sponsor rankings, including the “exemplary” rating earned by Fordham. (Gongwer Ohio, 7/17/15) This turn of events was also covered by the Beacon Journal, and included a quote from a blog post by our own Aaron Churchill on a different but related subject. To call the ABJ story “wide-ranging” would be an understatement. (Akron Beacon Journal, 7/17/15)
- The fallout continued over the weekend as the leader of the school choice section of ODE resigned in the wake of the controversy over the sponsor review process. Coverage of the resignation was widespread and included the Plain Dealer (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/19/15), the Enquirer (Cincinnati Enquirer, 7/20/15), and various other outlets via the Associated Press (Columbus Dispatch via AP, 7/19/15)
- Even before the resignation was announced, the editorializing had begun. First up, editors in Akron opined in favor of immediate investigation of ODE, preferably by the state auditor (I know) in regard to the sponsor review process. (Akron Beacon Journal, 7/18/15). Same goes for editors in Cleveland, although they went ahead and updated their opinion in light of the resignation announcement. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/19/15)
- In other news, the PD is asking the questions who knew what and when in regard to the so-called Youngstown Plan (really a sharpening of the Academic Distress Commission protocols statewide, but currently narrowly focused on Youngstown). They seem less than pleased with the info as reported. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/20/15) Closer to the heart of the matter, the Vindy offered up a selection of local opinion on the plan as a news item this weekend. While lots of folks are still complaining of the process by which the plan was enacted, the paper notes that no alternatives have yet emerged. And of particular focus are the comments of a 2009 YCS grad who asks where this level of public engagement/outrage has been the previous 10 years. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/19/15) Meanwhile, editors in Youngstown opined strongly against any challenge to the enactment process and strongly for allowing the plan to go into effect. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/19/15)
- Speaking of op-eds, editors in Cleveland opined this weekend in favor of shorter testing times for students. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/18/15)
- One more editorial, if you can stand it. Editors in Canton opined in favor of Ohio’s new Adult Diploma Program. So much so that the piece almost turned into an advertisement. (Canton Repository, 7/17/15)
- Finally, initial results for the third grade reading test in Ohio were released last week. And the number of third graders who did not score proficient is higher this year than last. That’s statewide, and in Stark County, from which this story originates. Perhaps a higher cut score is to blame, but it’s likely more than just that. Of course the widespread “safe harbor” rules for students in the recently-enacted state budget may render any concern moot in regard to the state’s Third Grade Reading “Guarantee”. (Canton Repository, 7/17/15)
