RttT Has Failed To Deliver

in

As ODE prepares to dig through hundreds of Straight A Fund applications, Race-to-the-Top, it's big brother in the dog-eat-dog world of funding schools through competitive grant making is looking like a big flop according to a new report published by the Economic Policy Institute. The report finds

States made unrealistic and impossible promises
  • With one exception, every grantee state promised to raise student achievement and close achievement gaps to degrees that would be virtually or literally impossible even with much longer timelines and larger funding boosts.
  • Virtually every state has had to delay implementation of its teacher evaluation systems, due to insufficient time to develop rubrics, pilot new systems, and/or train evaluators and others.


RTTT policies fall short on teacher improvement and fail to address core drivers of opportunity gaps

  • States have focused heavily on developing teacher evaluation systems based on student test scores, but not nearly as much on using the evaluations to improve instruction, as intended.
  • Because state assessments tend to test students’ math and reading skills, attention has been focused mostly on those subjects, potentially to the detriment of others. States have also struggled to determine how to evaluate teachers of untested subjects and teachers of younger students, a critical issue, given that they constitute the majority of all teachers.
  • While some states have developed smart strategies to recruit talented professionals to teach subjects and/or teach in schools that are underserved, the vast majority of alternative certification money and effort has gone to bringing young, largely uncredentialed novices to teach in disadvantaged schools.
  • Districts heavily serving low-income and minority students, especially large urban districts, face some of the most severe challenges. Tight timelines and lack of resources compound RTTT’s failure to address poverty- related impediments to learning. Heightened pressure on districts to produce impossible gains from an overly narrow policy agenda has made implementation difficult and often counterproductive.


RTTT shortcomings have spurred state–district and union–management conflicts that hinder progress

  • The tight budgets that led many states to apply for RTTT funding have proven problematic as state education budgets, and staff, are reduced just as more resources and experts are needed.
  • While states have worked hard to reach out to local education agencies (LEAs) to secure their participation—a main requirement for RTTT funding—districts increasingly protest state micromanagement, limited resources, and poor communications.
  • The heavy focus on evaluation and punishment over improvement has made teachers, principals, and superintendents suspicious and has reduced support for RTTT.
  • States and districts that laid strong foundations for change, including making teachers real partners, and making union–management collaboration fundamental to the success of reform, have seen the most progress, have encountered the fewest bumps, and seem more likely to sustain gains. District and school culture, which varies tremendously within and across states, also plays a role in determining whether implementation efforts are succeeding or struggling.
  • While educators see great potential in the Common Core State Standards, the limited funding and lack of professional development linked to student data from RTTT raises concerns that the even more intense demands of the Common Core will exacerbate achievement gaps rather than produce benefits.

The report also notes that long-term data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) suggest that the standards-and-accountability era has not boosted achievement any more than achievement grew in the decades that preceded it. The push to do too much too quickly with too few resources has led teachers, principals, and superintendents to express frustration and stress. Most critical, many of the major problems limiting student and school success remain unaddressed.

With the money now expended, RttT initiatives are even less likely to have a lasting impact.

MISMATCHES IN RACE TO THE TOP LIMIT EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT

Top 10 Reasons Not to Contract with TFA

in

EdWeek publishes the top 10 reasons not to contract with Teacher for America (TFA)

Reason Ten: Paying a fee for a TFA recruit is a misuse of taxpayer funds when state and federal governments have given millions to this organization. The higher the fee the more a district is exploited.

Reason Nine: Allowing placement in elementary school positions where there is no shortage of skilled teachers is a ploy to assure that you will have no choice but to honor the agreed upon number of TFA recruits.

Reason Eight: Locking yourself into a contract with no escape clause assures that your potential career teachers who are more qualified cannot receive preference in hiring.

Reason Seven: Contracting for out-of-state TFA recruits undermines opportunities for local graduates of teacher education programs and diminishes loyalty in the community.

Reason Six: Once you commit to a number of TFA positions, TFA owns those positions for the duration of the contract. You lose the power to hire the best applicants for your district.

Reason Five: Follow the money trail. While TFA is a non-profit, they operate like a for-profit with a large network of staff to market the program. TFA staff are expected to raise funds at the local and state level. In addition, the organization has a huge financial commitment to branding and political/legislative operations.

Reason Four: The TFA business model thrives on turnover, a dynamic that spells instability for a school district. Good teachers hit their stride after 4-5 years, but less that 20% of TFA recruits stay that long.

Reason Three: TFA is a short-term response to long-term needs. Unwittingly, they undermine the political will to invest in teachers and the profession. Districts entering into contracts with TFA become co-conspirators.

Reason Two: The limited preparation that Teach For America provides to recruits does not adequately prepare them for classroom management, understanding of curriculum, lesson plan alignment, special education needs, parental involvement, teamwork, and collaboration. Content knowledge without appropriate pedagogy will never equal accomplished teaching.

Number One Reason: Poor and minority children need and deserve the most prepared and most experienced teachers. To give them less is malpractice.

A reasonable list.

November 2013 School Levies and Issues

in

Early voting has already begun for the November 5th, 2013 general election. 195 school related issues and levies will appear on ballots around the state, an identical number to 2012.

Here's how they break down

N/R Additional New Renewal Replacement Grand Total
Income Tax 12 13 2 27
Bond 10 10
Combo 19 19
Levy 68 66 4 138
Misc 1 1
Grand Total 87 23 79 6 195

Here's the full list

County District Type N/R
Allen Perry LSD Combo Additional
Allen Bath LSD Levy Renewal
Allen Elida LSD Levy Additional
Allen Shawnee LSD Levy Renewal
Ashland Hillsdale LSD Income Tax New
Ashland Loudonville-Perrysville EVSD Levy Replacement
Ashtabula Geneva Area CSD Levy Renewal
Ashtabula Jefferson Area LSD Levy Renewal
Athens Trimble LSD Levy Additional
Auglaize New Knoxville LSD Income Tax Renewal
Auglaize New Bremen LSD Combo Additional
Auglaize Minster LSD Levy Renewal
Belmont Bellaire LSD Levy Additional
Belmont Shadyside LSD Levy Additional
Brown Ripley Union Huntington LSD Levy Additional
Butler Fairfield CSD Combo Additional
Butler Middletown CSD Combo Additional
Butler Lakota LSD Levy Additional
Carroll Carrollton EVSD Levy Additional
Champaign Triad LSD Income Tax Renewal
Champaign Triad LSD Income Tax New
Champaign Graham LSD Levy Renewal
Champaign Mechanicsburg EVSD Levy Renewal
Champaign Urbana CSD Levy Renewal
Clark Northeastern LSD Income Tax New
Clark Clark-Shawnee LSD Levy Additional
Clark Tecumseh LSD Levy Additional
Clermont West Clermont LSD Levy Additional
Clermont Williamsburg LSD Levy Renewal
Clinton Clinton-Massie LSD Income Tax New
Columbiana Columbiana EVSD Bond
Columbiana United LSD Levy Additional
Coshocton Coshocton CSD Levy Renewal
Coshocton Coshocton County JVSD Levy Additional
Crawford Colonel Crawford LSD Bond
Crawford Colonel Crawford LSD Levy Additional
Crawford Galion CSD Levy Additional
Cuyahoga Cleveland Hts.-University Hts. CSD Bond
Cuyahoga North Royalton CSD Bond
Cuyahoga Olmsted Falls CSD Bond
Cuyahoga Lakewood CSD Combo Additional
Cuyahoga Brecksville-Broadview Heights CSD Levy Renewal
Cuyahoga Brooklyn CSD Levy Renewal
Cuyahoga Independence LSD Levy Renewal
Cuyahoga Solon CSD Levy Additional
Cuyahoga Westlake CSD Levy Additional
Defiance Hicksville EVSD Income Tax Renewal
Defiance Ayersville LSD Levy Renewal
Defiance Northeastern LSD Levy Additional
Erie EHOVE JVSD Levy Replacement
Erie Huron CSD Levy Renewal
Erie Perkins LSD Levy Additional
Fairfield Berne Union LSD Income Tax Replacement
Fairfield Bloom Carroll LSD Combo Additional
Franklin Columbus CSD Combo Additional
Franklin Upper Arlington CSD Levy Additional
Franklin Columbus CSD Misc
Fulton Evergreen LSD Income Tax Renewal
Geauga Ledgemont LSD Combo Additional
Geauga Berkshire LSD Levy Renewal
Geauga Chardon LSD Levy Additional
Geauga Newbury LSD Levy Additional
Greene Beavercreek CSD Levy Additional
Greene Yellow Springs EVSD Levy Renewal
Guernsey East Guernsey LSD Levy Additional
Hamilton Deer Park Community CSD Levy Additional
Hamilton Oak Hills LSD Levy Additional
Hamilton Three Rivers LSD Levy Renewal
Hancock Riverdale LSD Income Tax Renewal
Hancock Arlington LSD Combo Additional
Hancock Liberty-Benton LSD Combo Additional
Hancock Van Buren LSD Levy Renewal
Hardin Upper Scioto Valley LSD Levy Additional
Henry Holgate LSD Levy Renewal
Henry Holgate LSD Levy Renewal
Henry Napoleon Area CSD Levy Additional
Huron Norwalk CSD Income Tax Replacement
Huron Monroeville LSD Levy Renewal
Jefferson Edison LSD Levy Additional
Jefferson Jefferson Co JVSD Levy Additional
Knox East Knox LSD Combo Additional
Knox Mount Vernon CSD Levy Renewal
Lake Fairport Harbor EVSD Levy Renewal
Lake Madison LSD Levy Renewal
Lake Willoughby-Eastlake CSD Levy Renewal
Licking North Fork LSD Income Tax Renewal
Licking Southwest Licking LSD Bond
Licking Granville EVSD Levy Additional
Licking Heath CSD Levy Additional
Licking Newark CSD Levy Renewal
Logan Riverside LSD Income Tax Renewal
Logan Benjamin Logan LSD Levy Additional
Logan Indian Lake LSD Levy Renewal
Lorain North Ridgeville CSD Combo Additional
Lorain Avon LSD Levy Renewal
Lorain Columbia LSD Levy Additional
Lorain Elyria CSD Levy Renewal
Lorain Lorain County Community College Levy Renewal
Lucas Anthony Wayne LSD Levy Additional
Lucas Ottawa Hills LSD Levy Additional
Lucas Springfield LSD Levy Additional
Lucas Toledo CSD Levy Renewal
Madison Madison-Plains LSD Levy Renewal
Mahoning West Branch LSD Income Tax New
Mahoning Canfield LSD Levy Additional
Mahoning Sebring LSD Levy Additional
Mahoning South Range LSD Levy Additional
Marion Ridgedale LSD Combo Additional
Marion Pleasant LSD Levy Additional
Marion Tri-Rivers JVSD Levy Replacement
Medina Brunswick LSD Levy Additional
Medina Cloverleaf LSD Levy Additional
Medina Medina CSD Levy Additional
Meigs Southern LSD Levy Renewal
Miami Troy CSD Levy Renewal
Monroe Switzerland of Ohio LSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Brookville LSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Centerville CSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Huber Heights CSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Jefferson Twp LSD Levy Renewal
Montgomery Kettering CSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Oakwood CSD Levy Additional
Montgomery Vandalia-Butler CSD Levy Additional
Morrow Cardington-Lincoln LSD Income Tax New
Morrow Mt. Gilead EVSD Income Tax New
Morrow Northmor LSD Levy Additional
Muskingum Franklin LSD Levy Additional
Ottawa Benton-Carroll-Salem LSD Levy Renewal
Ottawa Benton-Carroll-Salem LSD Levy Renewal
Ottawa Port Clinton CSD Levy Renewal
Paulding Paulding EVSD Levy Renewal
Perry Southern LSD Levy Additional
Pickaway Logan Elm LSD Combo Additional
Portage Streetsboro CSD Combo Additional
Portage Field LSD Levy Additional
Portage James A. Garfield LSD Levy Renewal
Portage Ravenna CSD Levy Additional
Portage Windham EVSD Levy Renewal
Preble Eaton Community CSD Income Tax Renewal
Preble Tri-County North LSD Income Tax New
Preble Twin Valley LSD Income Tax New
Putnam Continental LSD Levy Renewal
Putnam Leipsic LSD Levy Renewal
Richland Mansfield CSD Levy Additional
Sandusky Gibsonburg EVSD Income Tax New
Sandusky Woodmore LSD Levy Renewal
Scioto Scioto Co. Career Technical Center Levy Renewal
Seneca Old Fort LSD Income Tax Renewal
Seneca Bettsville LSD Levy Replacement
Shelby Sidney CSD Income Tax New
Stark Canton LSD Bond
Stark Fairless LSD Levy Additional
Stark Marlington LSD Levy Renewal
Stark Massillon CSD Levy Renewal
Stark Osnaburg LSD Levy Additional
Stark Perry LSD Levy Renewal
Summit Norton CSD Bond
Summit Manchester LSD Levy Additional
Summit Mogadore LSD Levy Additional
Summit Tallmadge CSD Levy Renewal
Summit Twinsburg CSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Bristol LSD Combo Additional
Trumbull Howland LSD Levy Additional
Trumbull LaBrae LSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Lordstown LSD Levy Additional
Trumbull Maplewood LSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Mathews LSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Mathews LSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Southington LSD Levy Additional
Trumbull Warren CSD Levy Renewal
Trumbull Weathersfield LSD Levy Renewal
Tuscarawas Garaway LSD Combo Additional
Tuscarawas Buckeye JVSD Levy Renewal
Tuscarawas Indian Valley LSD Levy Renewal
Tuscarawas New Philadelphia CSD Levy Additional
Tuscarawas Tuscarawas Valley LSD Levy Additional
Union Fairbanks LSD Levy Renewal
Union Marysville EVSD Levy Renewal
Van Wert Crestview LSD Income Tax Renewal
Van Wert Lincolnview LSD Levy Renewal
Warren Lebanon CSD Combo Additional
Warren Franklin CSD Levy Additional
Warren Springboro Community CSD Levy Renewal
Warren Wayne LSD Levy Renewal
Washington Frontier LSD Levy Additional
Wayne Norwayne LSD Income Tax New
Wayne Northwestern LSD Levy Renewal
Williams Bryan CSD Bond
Williams Millcreek-West Unity LSD Levy Additional
Wood Elmwood LSD Income Tax Renewal
Wood Elmwood LSD Income Tax Renewal
Wood Rossford EVSD Bond
Wood Northwood LSD Combo Additional
Wood Eastwood LSD Levy Renewal
Wyandot Upper Sandusky EVSD Income Tax Renewal

Right to Work: Don’t Trust It!

in

By Jeanne Melvin, Hilliard Education Association

Whether it’s the “Workplace Freedom” initiative or so-called “Right to Work,” DON’T trust it! The words “freedom” or “right” may sound really positive, but they have completely different meanings for extremist legislators than they do for Ohio’s working families. Words have power. Important decisions are made on a daily basis, simply because of the choice of words, so people need to be careful not to be misled. Let’s look at this issue and see what it really means.

Most of Ohio’s Republican legislators belong to a powerful organization of lawmakers and corporations, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), that have joined the Tea Party affiliated FreedomWorks for “an aggressive grassroots state-based campaign to push back against domineering unions.” The “Workplace Freedom,” or “Right to Work,” campaign’s main goal has nothing to do with “freedom” or “rights” for American workers, but it’s targeted at destroying unions by misleading people with those positive sounding words. By minimizing the effectiveness of unions, the corporations will have employees who work more for less, and the Republican Party will have removed the union-supported political party that stands in its way, the Democratic Party.

We are all familiar with the Tea Party and its influence on today’s Republican Party, but how about ALEC? Most of us know very little about this secretive organization that has taken over the Ohio Statehouse. In 2011, the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) revealed the powerful control of the corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) over the legislative process in many states in the US. It published a report showing over 800 business-friendly bills that were created, endorsed, and secretly voted on by corporations and Republican lawmakers. People for the American Way, Progress Ohio, and Common Cause documented the stranglehold that ALEC has on the legislative process in Ohio and divulged the fact that 43% of its legislators belong to this corporate bill mill. There’s no need for these ALEC lawmakers to write many of their own bills, since ALEC’s corporate policy-makers create “model bills” for them to sponsor and get passed into laws. For more background on ALEC, watch this documentary by Bill Moyers.

Now that we know a little more about who we are dealing with, what are “Right to Work” laws? The Center for Media & Democracy states that, “So-called right-to-work laws undermine collective bargaining by allowing some employees a free ride when the union uses the collective power of workers to negotiate wages, raises, and other benefits with managers. Several of the anti-union laws introduced since the 2010 elections can be traced to “model” bills from ALEC, after legislators who attended the December 2010 ALEC meeting embraced the right-to-work agenda that had stalled decades earlier.” Check out the “ALEC Model Right to Work Act.”

Two years ago 2.1 million Ohioans overwhelmingly defeated Senate Bill 5, Governor Kasich’s unfair, unsafe attack on working families that would hurt all Ohioans. Even though a majority of the people of Ohio had voted against this assault on collective bargaining, the Ohio Legislature recently began hearings on three so-called “right to work” bills that would eliminate freedoms for working families, threaten workplace safety, and put profits before people. These so-called “Right to Work” initiatives, brought to the Statehouse by the same out-of-touch people who wanted SB 5, are worse than Senate Bill 5, because they would hurt every worker in Ohio. Even though the media has publicized that “top Republicans have said a package of right-to-work bills doesn’t have support,” we should continue to remain vigilant, because in Michigan, right to work legislation was passed in the dead of the night.

What will so-called “Right to Work” laws really mean? So-called “right to work” laws will give employers the “freedom” to offer their workers less pay with less benefits, because their unions’ negotiating powers will be diminished. So-called “right to work” laws will give employers the “freedom” to weaken the voices of our teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and first responders by making it harder to bargain for safe staffing levels and necessary equipment. So-called “right to work” laws will give employers the “freedom” to silence whistleblowers who are counted on to keep our workplaces safe, protect consumer goods, services, and products, and safeguard our natural resources.

Ohioans must not let themselves be fooled by the power of words. All workers must exercise the right to work together for our own “aggressive grassroots state-based campaign to push back against domineering corporations.” Only then will there truly be freedom.


Ohio Cyber Schools Flunk

in

Via Politico

In state after state, online school after online school posts dismal scores on math, writing and science tests and mediocre scores on reading. Administrators have long explained their poor results by saying students often come to their schools far behind and make excellent progress online, even if they fall short of passing state tests.
[...]
Ohio’s six biggest cyber schools all got Fs on their state progress reports, meaning students learned nowhere near a year’s worth of material in a year of studying online. In Colorado, students at five of the six biggest cyber schools failed to make as much annual growth in math as peers around the state — often by yawning margins. In South Carolina, all four cyber charter high schools had academic growth ratings of ‘below average’ or ‘at risk,’ as did two of the three elementary schools.

For-profit eschools are bad everywhere.