- The attendance audit about which the state education department and the state’s largest online school have been kerfuffling for the last many weeks has been completed. A letter from ODE to the school earlier this week indicated that ODE’s student count is 58.8 percent less than that of the school. The kerfuffle continues. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/26/16) This story has gained some national attention, as you might imagine. Here is a piece from the EdWeek blogs discussing the kerfuffle, ODE’s findings, and the ongoing court case. For good measure, it includes Fordham among the list of charter advocates who have been arguing for more accountability for online schools. (Education Week digital education blog, 9/27/16)
- The last release of Ohio school report card data earlier this year saw a newcomer enter the field of test score analysis. And with the new report card data released last week, Mike Molnar, executive director of educational services for Amherst Local Schools in Lorain County, is back at it. Same as last time, his main area of interest is the difference in performance between districts using paper and pencil tests vs. those using online tests. His operative word this year: “seesaw”. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/27/16)
- "I don't think there will be much chance that (our provider) will be META or SCOCA," said the superintendent of Chillicothe City Schools at a board meeting last night in regard to the district’s technology services vendor. You will recall that META Solutions and the South Central Ohio Computer Association (SCOCA) are embroiled in state and federal investigations over a number of allegations related to use and misuse of millions of dollars in public funds. (Chillicothe Gazette, 9/27/16)
- “As the CEO, I have complete operational, managerial and instructional control,” said Youngstown boss Krish Mohip at last night’s school board meeting. “But I didn’t come in and immediately change operations or policy, as I wanted to get to know the district. I feel, however, now that the time is right to begin some more substantial change.” Starting with board meetings. (Youngstown Vindicator, 9/28/16)
- The superintendent of Austintown schools responded this week to residents’ criticism of open enrollment in their district, which we mentioned to you last week. I will go out a limb to suggest many of those residents will not be swayed. (Youngstown Vindicator, 9/28/16) One assumes that Austintown is currently a net financial winner in terms of open enrollment, given the tenor and substance of the discussion above. Coventry Local Schools, near Akron, appears to be a net financial loser in regard to open enrollment. The district has been advised by Auditor Yost (!) to trim the number of OE students in the district to save money. But a new advisor has offered a slightly different appraisal, leading to some confusion. (Akron Beacon Journal, 9/27/16)
- Finally, an adorable story that has nothing to do with school boards or open enrollment or online schools. It doesn’t even have to do with academics. It’s a fifth-grade classroom in Lorain in which ballroom dancing is mandatory…and actually enjoyed! (The 74 Million blog, 9/27/16)
