Education News for 05-28-2013

State Education News

• Coventry schools lead state in financial stress, but may have righted the ship (Akron Beacon Journal)

For nearly as long as Ohio has been rating school districts based on their financial health, Coventry schools has been in fiscal watch — the second-lowest level possible…Read more...

• Bulletproof backpacks used to protect some school children (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

Guns weren't the only thing people raced to buy after 20 students and six adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School…Read more...

• Columbus school board president clarifies stand on auditor (Columbus Dispatch)

Columbus Board of Education President Carol Perkins said this week that the district’s internal auditor’s post “is not going to be done away with,” but she issued a statement later saying that her words had been misinterpreted…Read more...

• 3 referred to state in city schools data probe (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus school district has reported three former employees with ties to its data scandal to a state office that investigates educator wrongdoing…Read more...

• Area schools to get $1.8M to meet new state requirements (Dayton Daily News)

Several districts and schools across the Miami Valley will get a $1.8 million boost to meet the state’s new early literacy and reading requirements, including two districts in Clark and all districts in Champaign counties…Read more...

• State denies request for more information on attendance investigation (Dayton Daily News)

The Ohio Department of Education has denied the newspaper’s request to see Northridge Local Schools’ official written response to allegations that it scrubbed student attendance data…Read more...

• Non-traditional high school graduates grows (Dayton Daily News)

The majority of Ohio public high school seniors still graduate from traditional schools but a growing number of them are graduating from non-traditional high schools…Read more...

• Changes coming to GED; New standards, switch to digital format (Lorain Morning Journal)

It’s been three years since 21-year-old Larita White started working toward her GED, but her progress may be undone if she doesn’t receive the diploma before January…Read more...

• State OKs plans to fix school data errors (New Philadelphia Times-Reporter)

Ohio schools that reportedly had errors in certain enrollment data have gotten state approval of plans to fix the issues…Read more...

• It looks like there will be more money for more preschool in state (Ohio Public Radio)

Some conservative Ohio lawmakers and some faith leaders who generally support conservative causes want to put millions of additional dollars into more preschool…Read more...

Local Education News

• Kids learning to COPE with stress (Columbus Dispatch)

Nothing gets 14-year-old Lyle Watters’ stomach tied up in knots as much as when his mom and stepdad argue…Read more...

• Columbus schools may tap OSU provost as fill-in chief (Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus school board president has asked Joseph Alutto, vice president and provost at Ohio State University, to lead Columbus City Schools until a permanent superintendent…Read more...

• North Baltimore to evaluate digital device program (Findlay Courier)

Results of a pilot program that permitted North Baltimore students to use mobile electronic devices during school hours will be assessed by school officials this summer…Read more...

• VB teachers, school begin contract talks (Findlay Courier)

Contract negotiations between Van Buren's teachers and administrators have begun and are proceeding well, Superintendent Tim Myers…Read more...

• Board approves reading, math programs for 2013 (Toledo Blade)

At its regular meeting last week, the board of education approved the 2013 elementary intervention program, including its fees and instructors…Read more...

• Board supports policy of student drug testing (Toledo Blade)

Fremont Ross High School students will undergo random drug testing next school year, following the school board’s support for a new drug testing policy…Read more...

• District to provide iPads to students (Toledo Blade)

Seventh and eighth graders in Oregon schools will get a welcome amenity next year when classes start: a new iPad. The board of education last week approved a technology lease with Apple Inc. that will put an iPad…Read more...

Editorial

• School board made good choice (Columbus Dispatch)

A public resolution by the Columbus Board of Education, expressing support for the recommendations of the Columbus Education Commission, is welcome…Read more...

• Easy vote for lawmakers (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio lawmakers have before them a simple piece of legislation that won’t cost a dime in state funds, has bipartisan sponsorship, enjoys the broadest possible community support and unites groups…Read more...

Education News for 05-09-2013

State Education News

• Voters OK’d 60 percent of levies for schools (Columbus Dispatch)

Ohio voters approved 60 percent of 137 local tax requests for schools on Tuesday…Read more...

• Just 7 percent of voters go to polls in central Ohio (Columbus Dispatch)

Tuesday was far from a proud day for democracy in central Ohio. It also was a costly one in terms of citizen participation…Read more...

• State takeover closer after levy defeat (Dayton Daily News)

State fiscal watch is imminent for Fairborn City Schools following voter rejection Tuesday of an 11.7-mill emergency levy by a 2-to-1 margin…Read more...

• Senator Looking For $100 Million In Budget To Support Preschool Vouchers (Gongwer)

Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) said Wednesday she hopes to amend the budget to add $100 million for a new voucher program to cover preschool costs for three- and four-year- olds…Read more...

• Liberty schools hopeful about teacher negotiations (Youngstown Vindicator)

State officials are hoping contract negotiations with the Liberty teachers union will save the school district “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”…Read more...

Local Education News

• Conneaut BOE, City Council building deal in jeopardy (Ashtabula Star-Beacon)

A possible partnership between the city of Conneaut and its school district to share use of a commercial building is in jeopardy over the cost of rehabilitating the structure…Read more...

• Cleveland school district and teachers union reach agreement on Cleveland Plan details (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Cleveland Teachers Union have reached a tentative agreement on how the two will work together to implement…Read more...

• Huber schools continue staff reduction plan (Dayton Daily News)

The Huber Heights school board will continue implementation of more than $6 million in cuts by reducing 34 support staff…Read more...

• Avon schools prepare to go wireless (Lorain Morning Journal)

Students can ready their Ipads and other Wi-Fi capable devices as Avon schools prepare to go wireless…Read more...

Editorial

• Minority decides for the majority (Columbus Dispatch)

A look at Tuesday’s primary-election results shows that many important races and issues were decided by only a handful of the people…Read more...

• School spirit (Findlay Courier)

Most would agree there's no better investment in the future than education. But by cutting funding in recent years, state government has shifted more of the burden of operating public schools to taxpayers and property owners…Read more...

Education News for 01-02-2013

State Education News

• OHSAA convenes athletics task force (Columbus Dispatch)

The association that oversees high-school athletics in Ohio has formed a task force to work with school-district treasurers in the wake of questionable use of more than $100,000…Read more...

• Scores of school workers want gun training (Columbus Dispatch)

More than 450 teachers and other school employees from across Ohio have applied for 24 spots in a free firearms-training program being offered by the Buckeye Firearms Association…Read more...

• Recess is key element in children’s well-being (Columbus Dispatch)

If childhood memories of pushing your best friend on the swings, sharing secrets and playing Red Rover are strong, there’s good reason…Read more...

• More schools add online courses (Dayton Daily News)

More Miami Valley school districts are offering blended learning, a combination of traditional classes and online learning…Read more...

• Challenges ahead for public schools (Marion Star)

As area schools enter 2013, educators can expect another year of change…Read more...

Local Education News

A waiting list? Catholic schools shout hallelujah (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The revelation struck Sister Anne Schulz last year on a day she had to turn away 90 students who wanted to attend Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School…Read more...

Area split on school security methods (Cincinnati Enquirer)

The mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., earlier this month has prompted school districts around the country to cast a critical eye at their security measures…Read more...

• Local schools outperform state on report cards (Dayton Daily News)

Students in traditional public schools across the Miami Valley outperformed their counterparts across the state in both performance index and ratings…Read more...

• School says movie lunch project raises test scores (Dayton Daily News)

Officials at a Dayton area charter school say state test scores in reading and math went up after students began participating in a mandatory project that requires them to watch a movie…Read more...

• ESC keeps track of grads (Lorain Morning Journal)

A grant earned last year by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center (ESC) has gone toward tracking how many county high school graduates are pursuing higher education, where they enroll…Read more...

• Judge denies motion to suppress statements made by family of accused Chardon shooter (Willoughby News Herald)

The motion to suppress statements made by the family of Thomas Lane III on the day of the Chardon High School shooting has been denied…Read more...

• 2 Mahoning school superintendents to retire-rehire in new year (Youngstown Vindicator)

Two Mahoning County superintendents will retire, and be rehired, in the new year…Read more...

Editorial

• Tragic uptick (Columbus Dispatch)

One tragic fact linked the short lives of nine otherwise-unrelated Franklin County youths this year: All of them died by suicide…Read more...

• The New Year (Columbus Dispatch)

Today dawns a New Year, and with it, our annual opportunity for a fresh start…Read more...

• Train teachers to see student warning signs (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

A new Ohio law requiring that both public and private school teachers be trained in recognizing students who may be considering suicide, and in doing something about it…Read more...

Education News for 09-25-2012

State Education News

• No charges for former leader of Ohio schools (Columbus Dispatch)

Prosecutors won’t press criminal charges against former state schools Superintendent Stan Heffner…Read more...

• SAT reading score hits 40-year low (Columbus Dispatch)

Reading scores on the SAT for the high-school class of 2012 reached a four-decade low, putting a punctuation mark on a gradual decline…Read more...

• Booster clubs funds face state scrutiny (Dayton Daily News)

School booster and parent teacher organizations are about to come under increased scrutiny from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office…Read more...

• Attendance records being examined at 6 schools (Dayton Daily News)

State auditors are examining student attendance records in six Miami Valley school districts as part of a statewide probe into possible data tampering…Read more...

• Five-year-olds put to the test as kindergarten exams (Reuters)

With school in full swing across the United States, the littlest students are getting used to the blocks table and the dress-up corner…Read more...

Op/Ed

• What It Means to 'Believe in Teachers' (Education Week)

Last month, in his much-lauded speech to the Republican National Convention, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made "we believe in teachers"…Read more...

Local Education News

• School board takes next step toward busing pact with city (Chillicothe Gazette)

The board approved an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development for a Local Government Innovation Fund grant that will pay for environmental site studies…Read more...

• Dublin teachers forgo some pay hikes (Columbus Dispatch)

Dublin teachers and school administrators are giving up base-salary raises for next school year but will continue to receive step increases…Read more...

• State report card ranking may drop (Findlay Courier)

Findlay City Schools will most likely lose its "excellent" rating and instead earn a lesser "effective" rating on the state-issued report card…Read more...

• In Cincinnati, orchestrated academic support boosts students from cradle to career (NBC News.com)

Eight-month-old Calvin Boggs Jr., grinned when social worker Heidi Sullivan pulled a cardboard book emblazoned with the face of the character Thomas the Tank Engine out of her bag…Read more...

• Mathews seeks levy to avoid projected deficit (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

Mathews Board of Education is asking voters for a new five-year, 4.65-mill levy district officials said is needed to help avoid a projected deficit…Read more...

Education News for 06-22-2012

Statewide Stories of the Day

• Kasich lauds his pick of ex-OSU quarterback for state school board (Dispatch)

Gov. John Kasich described his new pick for the Ohio Board of Education yesterday as “a man of great character,” “a man of faith” and a “great addition” to the board. On Monday, Kasich appointed former Ohio State quarterback Stanley Jackson, 37, to replace Dennis Reardon on the 19-member board and serve the final six months of an at-large term. The Republican governor’s critics raised questions about Jackson’s qualifications for the board and Kasich’s vetting process. Read more...

• Ohio schools must prep for food allergy reactions (Telegraph Forum)

Food allergies are a part of the modern day school room. Ask just about any teacher, principal and of course school nurse (for schools that still have one) and they'll tell you that food allergies are among their many daily concerns when it comes to the well-being of students. Nationwide Children's Hospital estimates that one in 20 children have a food allergy. It's no wonder school personnel must address this very serious health concern. Read more...

Local Issues

• Advocates complain that juveniles in jail aren’t getting schools’ attention (Dispatch)

They’re “off the radar” kids. Special-needs juveniles who are doing time in jails and prisons with adults are entitled to, but often are not receiving, an education behind bars. That’s the thrust of a complaint filed against Columbus City Schools and the Focus Learning Academy by the Children’s Law Center Inc. The 14-page, class-action complaint was filed with the Ohio Department of Education. It is an administrative complaint, not a lawsuit. Read more...

• City schools cut 21 positions, $3M (Dayton Daily News)

DAYTON — Dayton Public Schools approved a budget Tuesday that cuts 21 positions and $3 million for fiscal year 2012, which is slightly more than 1 percent of its projected total expenditures. Those positions are for 12 part-time home instructors, three clerical employees and six high school physical education teachers. The 12 home instructors will be laid off and the other nine employees in the affected positions will be offered employment opportunities within the district, according to spokeswoman Melissa Fowler. Read more...

• Poland board members have their work cut out for them (Vindicator)

News earlier this month that the Poland Board of Education will place a five-year, 5.9-mill additional operating levy on the Nov. 6 ballot has unleashed a tsunami of passionate protest among many in one of most respected and best performing school districts in the Mahoning Valley. Judging by those passions that range from polite questioning to outright outrage and the school board’s 0-3 record of winning additional tax-levy approval over the past two years. Read more...

Editorial

• A new tack on funding California's schools (L.A. Times)

Wouldn't it make sense for education funding in California to be transparent and equitable, with money spent according to students' varying needs? Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing to inject some overdue clarity and logic into the process by allocating to schools a flat amount per pupil, plus a large additional sum for low-income students or those who aren't fluent in English. The governor's plan is far from perfect — it's especially lacking in accountability — and the Legislature appears unwilling to support it this year for reasons both political and philosophical. Read more...

Suspicious test scores

Here at JTF, we've been very quick to point out instances of cheating, either isolated, or systemic, as a quick search of our archives or twitter feeds will show. As public education is driven ever more into corporate types of management and measurement, coupled with high stakes tied to test scores, it should surprise no one that corporate types of behavior emerge - think Enron, Arthur Anderson, World Com, MF Global Holdings.

It is with that backdrop we turn to an investigative piece by the Dayton Daily News (DDN) in conjunction with the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), titled "Suspect test scores found across Ohio schools".

Steep spikes and drops on standardized test scores, a pattern that has indicated cheating in Atlanta and other cities across the nation, have occurred in hundreds of school districts and charter schools across Ohio in the past seven years, a Dayton Daily News analysis found.

The analysis does not prove cheating has occurred in Ohio. But interviews and documents show that state officials do not employ vigorous statistical analyses to catch possible cheating, discipline only about a dozen teachers a year and direct Ohio’s test vendor to spend just $17,540 on analyzing suspicious scores out of its $39 million annual testing contract.

It's a weak piece that could be used and sensationalized by many, and the paper has come under almost instant withering criticism for it's approach.

One of the researchers involved in analyzing data for USA today's ground breaking cheating series took a look at the DDN analysis

Given my past role in reviewing data and methods used for detecting systematic cheating, I was delighted to have the opportunity a week ago to review Ohio assessment data that was being used as part of a national study released today by The Atlanta Constitution-Journal and affiliated Cox newspapers. My review, however, yielded serious concerns about the data used, the methods of analysis employed, and the conclusions drawn.
[...]
In short, here are some of my concerns about the methods:

• As noted, the analysis is based on school-level data and not individual student-level data. Accordingly, it was not possible to ensure that the same students were in the group in both years.
• The analysis of irregular jumps in test scores should have been coupled with irregularities in erasure data where this data was available.
• The analysis by Cox generates predicted values for schools, but this does not incorporate demographic characteristics of the student population.
• The limited details available on the study methods made it impossible to replicate and verify what the journalists were doing. Further, the rationale was unclear for some of the steps they took.

He wasn't the only expert to consider the DDN findings. Stephen Dyer, former newspaper reporter, architect of Ohio's prematurely abandoned evidence based model, and think tank fellow had this to say, after discussing similar analytical shortcomings as pointed out above

If you're going to write a story that suggests massive, statewide (and in AJC's case, national) cheating on standardized tests, you'd better be prepared to name the offenders and feel solid enough in your methodology to refute the state's education agency and largest teachers union, both of whom knocked the papers' methods. If you have to spend a large chunk of your story having competing experts defend and knock your statistical analysis, you need to re-do the analysis. Though it showed integrity for the paper to allow those critical comments in the story.

As a former reporter, I can say these issues would invariably pop up before big stories ran. Sometimes, it means delaying your story for a day or two, or in a few cases, never run them at all. As a journalist, you, as a general rule, cannot spend any time in your story defending your story. If you have to, it means you don't have it nailed down yet; it needs more time in the oven.

The DDN spend almost the entirety of their story defending their story.

Greg Mild, over at Plunderbund has an even harsher response, and points out some great absurdities of the DDN analysis

Furthermore, note that the “2,600 improbable changes” include spikes and drops in test results. These journalists are putting out this theory of irregularities and cheating by schools based on numbers that include falling scores! Right, because so many educators are interested in risking their careers by encouraging children to change their scores to incorrect answers to suffer a significant DROP in their test scores. Yet those numbers are touted by these “journalists” in their sweeping accusations of improbable scores and cheating.

We continue to believe that cheating is totally unacceptable and ought to be exposed when and where found, but the Dayton Daily News story, as they point out themselves, does not come close to demonstrating what they seem to want to sensationalize - widespread cheating, Atlanta style.

As we begin to rely more and more upon student test scores to measure schools and teachers, suspicions are going to grow, a few might be borne out, but many will be baseless - but each accusation serves to undermine public education and people's trust in it. It's another unintended failing of the corporate education reform schemes we're currently pursuing.