- Our own Chad Aldis is one of several Ohio sources quoted in this national piece looking at the state’s second-draft ESSA plan: how and why it’s changed, what its reception at USDOE might be, and what it means for accountability back home. (The 74 Million, 7/24/17)
- Editors in Toledo today opined with some horror at the lowered graduation requirements for the Class of 2018. (Toledo Blade, 7/26/17) Wonder why they are just getting around to condemning this outrage today? Oh, it’s probably because of the city’s dismal standing in this new ranking of least-educated cities in America. Bet TPS’s graduation rate will go through the roof next year…yay. (Toledo Blade, 7/26/17)
- As expected, the Lorain Academic Distress Commission on Monday chose their CEO from among the five finalists presented to the public last week. He is David Hardy Jr., who comes to Lorain from St. Louis Public Schools. He will not be on the job right away as he closes up shop in Missouri but the 90-day clock is now ticking toward the deadline for his and the ADC’s new turnaround plan. Not to mention the start of school in a month. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 7/24/17) New CEO Hardy seems like a terrific candidate to me. You can read more about him, and the continued grumbling over the process by several folks in Lorain, via this piece in the Elyria Chronicle. (Elyria Chronicle, 7/25/17) Folks in Cleveland, home of the OG district CEO in Ohio, were also interested enough to report on Hardy’s selection. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/25/17) That above-mentioned grumbling, and some praise too, is included in this boring newspaper version of a “teens react” video from the Journal. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 7/25/17)
- Meanwhile, in Youngstown, the board last night voted 3-3 on the issue of retaining yet more lawyers (which would have made at least four firms representing different district interests) and the tie meant no action on the proposal. If only it meant less actual litigation. (Youngstown Vindicator, 7/26/17)
- Finally today, a glimpse of budget cutting at the state’s largest online school in the wake of the start of funding repayments to the state: $56 million in spending cuts, including layoffs for 250 staffers. Wonder if there were more people at the online school’s board meeting than were at the Youngstown district board meeting? (Columbus Dispatch, 7/26/17)
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