Statewide Education News

Kasich gets bill requiring teaching of founding documents (Dispatch)

Ohio students in grades four to 12 would have to be taught the original texts of the U.S. Constitution and other founding documents, and high-school students would take end-of-course exams for American history and government under a bill that won final legislative approval yesterday. The bill was sparked by a February 2011 report from the Fordham Foundation that was critical of Ohio’s history-education standards. Supporters argue that children cannot be expected to defend the rights and freedoms the Founding Fathers intended without an understanding of the documents. Read More…

Ohio lawmakers hoping for compromise before introducing Cleveland schools plan (Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS - Despite pressure from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's office, the Democrat's sweeping plan to transform Cleveland schools didn't reach the Statehouse launching pad Wednesday. For Statehouse Democrats, the main sticking points holding up introduction of the legislation were a pair of provisions fiercely opposed by the Cleveland Teachers Union and the Ohio Federation of Teachers. A so-called "fresh start" provision would begin future contract negotiations without carryover items from previous contracts. Read More…

Bill shortening school year revised to give districts flexibility (Dispatch)

Sorry, kids, but it doesn’t look like you’re going to get a longer summer break after all. A state legislator has dropped a proposal to require school to start after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day. Instead, a new version of the legislation unveiled today would give school districts more flexibility with their school calendars. House Bill 191, introduced by Rep. Bill Hayes, R-Harrison Township, would change state laws regarding the minimum time that students must spend in school: from 182 days to 1,001 hours for grades seven through 12. Read More…

Lawmakers honor Chardon ‘heroes’ (Dispatch)

Just a month after a high-school shooting in Chardon left three dead and two seriously wounded, Gov. John Kasich and the General Assembly honored law-enforcement, firefighters, school officials and other first responders for their efforts. Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the governor wanted the 47 men and women, whom Kasich called “ real heroes” in a tweet yesterday, to share their experiences with his cabinet. After the emotional meeting, Nichols said, the group had lunch with the governor, before receiving commendations from the Ohio House and Senate. Read More…

Local Issues

Tax panel seeks info on Columbus schools employee salaries (Dispatch)

A citizens committee looking at whether Columbus City Schools should ask voters for more property-tax money wants a wide range of detailed financial information, including how employees’ salaries and benefits size up in today’s jobs market. Committee member Alex Fischer urged Superintendent Gene Harris to “dream big,” not only on what she wants to preserve but also on what should be cut. Fischer is president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a group representing the leaders of about 30 local businesses. Read More…

Rachel's Challenge event coming to Perry Schools (News-Herald)

In the wake of the deadly Chardon school shooting, Perry Schools will bring Rachel’s Challenge to the district on Thursday. The presentation, which promotes positive change in treating others, is named after Rachel Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine school shooting in 1999. Shortly after the event, her family began speaking about the incident using drawings and writings from Rachel’s diaries to help spread positive messages. Read More…

Ohio Federation of Teachers says Cleveland reform plan lacks any proven methods for success (Plain Dealer)

When Mayor Frank Jackson introduced his plan to radically reshape Cleveland public schools, it was almost inevitable that the union representing Cleveland teachers would push back. Condemning the proposal as a crackdown on the collective bargaining rights of teachers akin to last year’s controversial Senate Bill 5, both the Cleveland Teachers Union and the larger group they belong to — the Ohio Federation of Teachers — spoke out. Read More…

Literacy program seeing results (WKYC 3 NBC)

CLEVELAND - The Literacy Cooperative has received and analyzed data measuring the first year pilot of SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) in Cuyahoga County and the results are very promising. As part its mission to improve lives by enhancing literacy, The Literacy Cooperative is piloting SPARK in selected communities in Cuyahoga County as a model for increasing early childhood literacy and school-readiness. Read More…

3 elementary schools would merge in Buckeye Valley tax plan (Dispatch)

RADNOR — School officials in the Buckeye Valley School District are capitalizing on the attention elementary schools are receiving in a budget crisis as the district prepares to ask voters to pass another income-tax increase and bond issue. Tonight, Superintendent Jamie Grube presented the board with a plan to tear down not only the previously targeted Buckeye Valley North Elementary School, but also the other two elementary schools in the Delaware County district. Read More…

Field Trip Helps Students Think About the Future (WJW 8 FOX)

ASHLAND – Forget recess and finger paints. Garfield Elementary students ditched their schoolbooks for a taste of higher learning. “We’re visiting Ashland University to mostly to visit our pen pals and mostly to know what it’s like at Ashland University,” said fourth grade student Kristen Lyons. Kristen was one of 70 fourth grade students touring campus. The biggest highlight, for many, was meeting their college pen pals. Read More…

Chardon heroes welcomed home after visit with state leaders (News-Herald)

The Chardon Walmart parking lot was populated by many community members wearing red and black on Wednesday afternoon. Hundreds lined up to shake hands, hug or simply say thanks to the first responders who worked to save lives and limit bloodshed during the Feb. 27 shootings at Chardon High School. Leadership Geauga and United Way Services of Geauga County helped organized the event dubbed "Hearts for Our Heroes," which welcomed home the heroes after they were honored earlier Wednesday at the Ohio Statehouse. Read More…