Education News for 09-13-2012

State Education News

• Staff, Students Learn Lessons From Active School Shooter Training (WBNS)

An active shooting scenario last month at Watkins Memorial High School has given staff and students an idea of items they need to improve on if there was a real-life active shooting…Read more...

• Partial report card data on Ohio's schools will now be released (Willoughby News Herald)

The Ohio Department of Education announced that they will release partial report card data to schools across the state…Read more...

Local Education News

• School enrollment same as last year (Findlay Courier)

Carey Schools' enrollment as of Aug. 22 is the same as it was last year, at 856 students, Superintendent Mark Vehre said following a Carey school board…Read more...

• Newark program uses play to relate lessons (Newark Advocate)

Kierra Paynter carefully brushed yellow paint onto a sheet of bubble wrap. When the plastic was completely covered, she pressed it on a piece of paper, creating a bright print…Read more...

• Judge orders ‘record restitution' for bus scheme (Willoughby News Herald)

An Avon Lake man was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for a scheme involving busing special-needs children…Read more...

Editorial

• Reappraisal throws schools for a loop (Canton Repository)

We don’t know of a single soul who thinks that Ohio’s public schools should be as dependent on local property taxes as they are. But simply switching out one tax for another isn’t the answer…Read more...

• Reforming truants (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Ohio school districts being investigated for improper tactics in recording student attendance ought to consider Cleveland's innovative handling of truants…Read more...

Two Visions

Education historian Diane Ravitch, writing about the Chicago teachers strike, but has lots of relevance across the board

The Chicago Teachers Union has a different vision: it wants smaller classes, more social workers, air-conditioning in the sweltering buildings where summer school is conducted, and a full curriculum, with teachers of arts and foreign languages in every school. Some schools in Chicago have more than forty students in a class, even in kindergarten. There are 160 schools without libraries; more than 40 percent have no teachers of the arts.

What do the teachers want? The main sticking point is the seemingly arcane issue of teacher evaluations. The mayor wants student test scores to count heavily in determining whether a teacher is good (and gets a bonus) or bad (and is fired). The union points to research showing that test-based evaluation is inaccurate and unfair. Chicago is a city of intensely segregated public schools and high levels of youth violence. Teachers know that test scores are influenced not only by their instruction but by what happens outside the classroom.

The strike has national significance because it concerns policies endorsed by the current administration; it also raises issues found all over the country. Not only in Chicago but in other cities, teachers insist that their students need smaller classes and a balanced curriculum. Reformers want more privately-managed charter schools, even though they typically get the same results as public schools. Charter schools are a favorite of the right because almost 90 percent of them are non-union. Teachers want job protection so that they will not be fired for capricious reasons and have academic freedom to teach controversial issues and books. Reformers want to strip teachers of any job protections.

Encounrage you to read the whole piece, here.

Invest in Public Education

Think Tank, Policy Matters Ohio, recently released a report titled "State of Working Ohio 2012. The Report has many interesting findings, but we wanted to parse out 2 of the major ones, especially as it related to education and working people.

Education pays, but Ohio isn’t passing that test. Over the past generation Ohioans have dramatically increased their education levels. This is a good thing, because compensation at lower education levels is shrinking. But other states are investing much more and reaping bigger rewards. And in the most recent state budget, we cut both K-12 and universities, keeping our students back.

Instead we should invest in education, from pre-K through college and beyond.

The graph below highlights this findings and recommendation

This becomes especially important, given the news we reported on just a few days ago, namely, the new school year bringing yet more cuts. This short-sighted policy by the Governor was highlighted by an editorial in the Plain Dealer

Ohio's economic prospects depend on a well-educated work force -- hard to achieve when budget cuts force schools to lay off teachers and shorten the school day.
[…]
Gov. John Kasich, whose administration is working on a long-delayed revamp of the state's school-funding formula, should make sure his approach offers extra money and other incentives to superintendents and school boards willing to create efficiencies through radical restructuring, as in Cleveland, or via mergers or the sharing of services or personnel with other districts.

Which brings us to the second finding and recommendation that the Policy Matters report includes

Unions give workers leverage and a voice. Aggressive employer anti-union practices and public policy that discourages organizing have taken their toll. As unions have eroded, so have worker wages and benefits and family well being. States with the lowest levels of unionization have the worst wages, states that combine union friendliness and education investments do best. Ohio voters spoke loud and clear last year in retaining collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

Ohio should retain and expand policies that help workers organize and preserve a collective voice.

The differences are quite stark

Destroying collective bargaining was another misguided policy choice made by the Governor. Unlike his radical defunding of education however, voters were able to overturn and repeal his union busting efforts.

The evidence is in abundance - we need to strengthen the middle class by investing in public education, the results will lead to a strong more vibrant Ohio.

Education News for 09-12-2012

State Education News

• Ohio school board extends report card delay (Associated Press)

COLUMBUS -- Ohio's school board again blocked release of state report cards on Tuesday amid an attendance-tampering investigation, but it cleared certain untainted data to be publicized…Read more…

• Ohio school board raises reading expectations (Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — As many as 10,000 third-graders could be held back next school year if they fall short of new minimum scores set for the state reading test.…Read more…

• State to release limited report cards (Columbus Dispatch)

The state’s school report cards are coming. Sort of. They’ll be stripped-down versions missing overall ratings, attendance rates and a performance index score.…Read more…

• Stricter seclusion rules in works (Columbus Dispatch)

All schools will be required to track — and disclose — how often they are restraining or secluding children under a proposed state policy.…Read more…

• Ohio School Board Extends State Report Card Delay (WBNS)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio's school board has again blocked the release of state report cards amid an attendance-tampering investigation.…Read more…

• Ohio will release report card data, with big caveats (WKSU)

After weeks of delay, the State Board of Education has decided to release preliminary report card data on school districts and buildings…Read more…

Local Education News

• Audit flags ethics questions at charter school (Cincinnati Enquirer)

A local charter school overpaid an employee $3,333 and committed possible ethics violations, according to the Ohio Auditor’s Office.…Read more…

• Cuyahoga Falls Students Ready for Battle on Bullying (Cuyahoga Falls Patch)

The start of the new school year brings a new front in the battle on bullying in the Cuyahoga Falls City Schools with the help of the $50,000 Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant the district received from the Ohio Department of Education last spring.…Read more…

• School board puts limit on sports (New Philadelphia Times-)

UHRICHSVILLE — The Newcomerstown Board of Education adopted a new policy Monday that would limit the…Read more…

• Teen arrested this morning after taking fake bomb to Parma Senior High School (Sun Newpapers)

PARMA -- A 15 year-old boy was arrested this morning after he allegedly took a fake bomb to Parma Senior High School, 6285 West 54th Street.…Read more…

• Beachwood school district may pull out as host of deaf and hard of hearing program (Sun Newpapers)

BEACHWOOD -- The Beachwood school district may end its role as host and fiscal officer of the deaf and hard of hearing consortium program in two years.…Read more…

• Parma parents air school traffic and safety concerns (Sun Newpapers)

PARMA -- Parents crowded into the school board meeting room Sept. 10 to complain about traffic around their children’s schools, late school buses and other issues that have occurred since the start of the school year.…Read more…

• Teachers review Common Core math program (This Week News)

Upper Arlington parents attended "Parent University" at the elementary schools last week to learn about the district's new Math in Focus program.…Read more…

• T.J. Lane to be transferred to adult detention facility (Willoughby News Herald)

Accused Chardon High School shooter Thomas Lane III should be transferred to an adult detention facility, Geauga County Common Pleas Judge David L. Fuhry has ruled.…Read more…

• U.S. Department of Education Recognizes Ontario Schools (WMAN)

The Ontario Local School District has been recognized for its environmental efforts. The district has received an honorable mention award as a Green Ribbon School from the U.S. Department of Education.…Read more…

• Education Department Expands IDEA Help Centers (Disability Scoop)

The number of training centers across the country designed to assist families in accessing services for students with disabilities is on the rise.…Read more…

Education News for 09-11-2012

State Education News

• Auditor: Probe not affected by report-card release (Associated Press)

COLUMBUS -- Releasing delayed state report cards on school progress won't hamper an investigation into potential tampering with school attendance numbers, Ohio's state auditor told education leaders Monday…Read more…

• Ohio isn't alone when it comes to school funding mistakes: editorial (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

After the Great Recession hit, far too many states took out their carving knives and quickly slashed school funding.…Read more…

• Ohio Board of Education wants school districts to go tobacco-free campus wide (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- There's no smoking inside schools housing grades kindergarten through 12 because a 6-year-old Ohio law prohibits indoor smoking in all public buildings and places of employment.…Read more…

• Auditor: Release report cards (Columbus Dispatch)

Go ahead and publish the on-hold school report cards, state Auditor Dave Yost told state education officials yesterday.…Read more…

• Auditor: Probe Not Affected By Report Card Release (WBNS)

Ohio's state auditor has advised education leaders that releasing delayed state report cards won't hamper his investigation into potential tampering with school attendance numbers.…Read more…

• School Attendance Scandal Costing Taxpayers Thousands (WBNS)

Ohio’s Auditor said on Monday that his staff has spent 7,000 hours and more than $140,000 on an investigating into whether Columbus City Schools officials manipulated attendance records.…Read more…

Local Education News

• Canton City Schools to follow state law on retaining students (Canton Repository)

CANTON — The Board of Education agreed Monday to change the district’s policy regarding retaining…Read more…

• Wolf Creek Local Schools to seek grant (Marietta Times)

Wolf Creek Local Schools hopes to join with 19 other Ohio school districts for a shot at their share of millions of dollars in grant funding to help with dual enrollment and blended learning classes.…Read more…

• Navy promotes STEM learning at Marion Tech (Marion Star)

The Navy is joining educators to encourage more students to seek STEM degrees. Vice Admiral James "Phil" Wisecup visited Marion Technical College recently…Read more…

• School Districts Hope To Share Services, Save Money (WBNS)

Two school districts in Licking County are exploring ways to share services to save money. Licking Heights Local Schools and the Southwest Licking Local Schools’ boards of education…Read more…

Editorial

• Lesson about secrecy still unlearned (Canton Repository)

The issue: Possible violations of open meetings law
Our view: Private meetings make it look as if Columbus board is circling the wagons…Read more…

• Catch Cheaters In Ohio Schools (Wheeling Intelligencer)

One hundred public school districts in Ohio are the focus of an investigation of falsified reports on student enrollment and attendance, it was reported during the weekend. That is approximately one-sixth of the districts in the state -…Read more…

Many costs to attendance investigation

The farce that has become the investigation into the school attendance erasures gained a price tag yesterday

Ohio’s Auditor said on Monday that his staff has spent 7,000 hours and more than $140,000 on an investigating into whether Columbus City Schools officials manipulated attendance records.

That price tag is certain to climb as it became obvious that the investigation has barely begun

Ohio Auditor Dave Yost was hoping to wrap up his investigation into attendance rigging at schools statewide well before the November elections.

It looks like that won’t happen.

Many Ohioans will be asked to vote on school levies this fall, and schools worry that uncertainty surrounding accusations of falsified attendance data may hurt their chances at the polls. But state Auditor Yost says he may not complete his investigation until the new year.

You'll notice from the articles and TV pieces we have linked to here, words like "rigging" and "scandal" being thrown around, despite any widespread evidence to date that anything like that has happened. This is a problem when one considers the number of school that are a potential target of the Auditors investigation

Ohio officials looking into potential tampering with school attendance numbers are focusing on 100 schools around the state.

The state auditor’s office tells The Dayton Daily News that investigators are concentrating on schools that have raised concerns based on data that shows they had a high number of student withdrawals.

A great many of those schools are going to be found totally innocent of any kinds of untoward data manipulation, and as the Fordham Foundation points out, even the innocent are being harmed.

Less than one month ago...

Releasing Ohio’s school report cards this month simply wouldn’t be fair, the state’s education leaders have decided.

They'll vote on changing that decision today...

Releasing delayed state report cards on school progress won't hamper an investigation into potential tampering with school attendance numbers, Ohio's state auditor told education leaders Monday.

Time the knee-jerk decision making ended, and some calm contemplation began.