- While initial responses to the state budget focused mainly on voucher expansion and third grade retention for last year’s kiddos, we’re several weeks into the new biennium now and the reality of changes to be realized on the ground in schools for the rapidly-approaching new school year seems to have generated some wider response at last. Let’s check it out. Most folks interviewed on the topic of enshrining the science of reading into law (and classroom practice) for this OCJ piece seem pretty happy about the change. That includes parents and teachers alike. Although there is still a sourpuss or two who is cranky about the concurrent outlawing of three-cueing and its ilk. In with the good, out with the bad, I say. (Ohio Capital Journal, 7/21/23) Meanwhile, in the bougie burbs: “Over the summer, we want kids and families to recharge and do all of those great summer activities but also hopefully they’re picking up books.”?(Cleveland.com, 7/24/23)
- Hopes and fears are expressed in this piece, where school district and ESC officials realize that the changes to education governance are actually going to happen and are likely going to impact the way they do their jobs. That’s my hope at least! (Dayton Daily News, 7/21/23)
- Funding formula changes are also hitting home for folks. The treasurer of Austintown Local Schools seems to lean toward “changes bad” in this piece (“This budget is the most volatile I’ve ever worked with,” he says) but one specific change looms largest for him: “As enrollments decline, funding will not be guaranteed the same way it was under old funding models.” Which means what, sir? “It’s going to make us work harder to entice our kids to continue to attend Austintown schools, and to ensure we have the tools to offer the quality education our board is concerned with providing.” Yeah. That is a problem, isn’t it? (Vindy.com, 7/24/23) The treasurer of Elyria City Schools seems to lean toward “changes good” in this piece. While the budget battle was something of a roller coaster for her, she says, she’s still pleased with the end result: An additional $7 million for the district over two years. (The Chronicle, 7/22/23)
- In our only non-budget story today: The first act of Dayton City Schools’ new interim superintendent is to dump the two-teachers-in-every-classroom model instituted by the departed supe. Elected school board members express some concern here, but I reckon there are $everal very good rea$on$ for doing $o, not least of which is cutting your teacher shortage in half with the stroke of a pen. (Dayton Daily News, 7/21/23)
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