wednesday

Education News for 02-28-2013

in

State Education News

  • IN OUR SCHOOLS: Ohio finally releases report cards (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Ohio’s Department of Education on Wednesday released the rest of its school and district report card data for the 2011-12 school year, six months late…Read more…

  • Ohio schools' report cards shifting to new format (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • The Solon school district won't be sweating over whether it's rated Excellent or Excellent with Distinction on state report cards anymore.…Read more…

  • Yost slams how schools report data (Columbus Dispatch)

    • State Auditor Dave Yost, whose office investigated data-scrubbing among school districts throughout the state, called on the Ohio Department of Education yesterday to fix the “just-trust-me” system.…Read more…

  • School report cards finally released (Findlay Courier)

    • After a nearly seven-month delay because of a statewide investigation into attendance tampering, the 2011-12 school report cards were finally released Wednesday.…Read more…

  • Official state report cards released (Lima News)

    • The State Department of Education released the final 2011-12 report cards Wednesday.…Read more…

  • Final-Not-Quite-Final Ohio School Report Cards Released (State Impact Ohio)

    • Ohioans finally get to see their schools’ ratings in the nice, clean PDF format they’re used to, instead of the confusing and incomplete spreadsheets the Department of Education released in the fall.…Read more…

  • Ohio Department of Education releases finalized school report cards (Toledo Blade)

    • The Ohio Department of Education released finalized school report cards today, after a months-long delay prompted by a statewide investigation into allegations of data manipulation by school districts.…Read more…

  • Justices’ questions leave fired science teacher hopeful (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Attorneys for Mount Vernon schools fidgeted in their seats and dropped their heads yesterday as they listened to Ohio Supreme Court justices discuss the case of fired teacher John Freshwater.…Read more…

Local Education News

  • Local districts fair well on state report cards (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Ohio Department of Education has found that Akron-area school districts performed higher than state performance averages.…Read more…

  • Report cards for Ohio schools unchanged from preliminary results, but Cleveland among districts still (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Your school district's rating on final report cards issued Wednesday hasn't changed since the state released preliminary ratings in the fall.…Read more…

  • Hilliard schools top new state ranking (Columbus Dispatch)

    • For years, Hilliard students consistently have accomplished more than a year’s worth of learning during the school year. …Read more…

  • Linden students collect 750 books for hospital (Hamilton Journal-News)

    • Linden Elementary’s Friday morning book club — The Morning Glories - set out to do something special for the school's participation in the 26 Days of Kindness initiative.…Read more…

  • Ohio releases final school report cards (New Philadelphia Times-Reporter)

    • Sixteen school buildings in the Tuscarawas Valley earned the ranking of Excellent With Distinction in the latest Ohio school report card data released Wednesday.…Read more…

  • No surprises as school report cards are finally released (Newark Advocate)

    • About six months later than usual, the Ohio Department of Education released final school report card data on Wednesday.…Read more…

  • Final school report card results released (Springfield News-Sun)

    • Local school districts maintained their preliminary report card ratings Wednesday when the state released final results for the 2011-12 school year.…Read more…

  • Youngstown schools stay lowest ranked in Valley (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Final school report cards released Wednesday by the Ohio Department of Education look a lot like those issued last October.…Read more…

  • ScholArts charter school to close today (Columbus Dispatch)

    • A charter school in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood is giving up its legal fight to stay open and will hold its final day of classes today.…Read more…

  • Sequester could cut local Head Start (Marion Star)

    • As Friday’s sequester deadline looms, 47 children in Marion, Morrow, Crawford and Richland counties remain caught in the cross hairs.…Read more…

  • Clark to hire school deputies (Springfield News-Sun)

    • Clark County commissioners plan to spend more than $96,000 this year and $118,000 next year to hire deputies to boost school security, but concerns have been raised whether the county can afford the program.…Read more…

  • Schools Scramble To Submit School Safety Plans To State After 10TV Probe (WBNS)

    • Three central Ohio schools left to submit their safety plans to the state filed them within the past week after being probed by 10TV’s Jerry Revish.…Read more…

  • CrimeTracker 10 Analyzes School Safety 1 year After Chardon HS Shooting (WBNS)

    • Last year’s tragedy at Chardon High School was a painful reminder of how vulnerable places of learning can be.…Read more…

  • Chardon Healing Fund helps victims' families after school shooting (WEWS)

    • The people of Chardon have opened their hearts to help victims’ families of the Chardon High School shooting. They've also opened their wallets and the generosity has been felt from coast-to-coast.…Read more…

  • Chardon school shooting victims' families suing T.J. Lane, his family (Willoughby News Herald)

    • Families of the three students who died in the Chardon High School shootings filed a wrongful death suit Wednesday against the gunman, his parents and his legal guardians.…Read more…

Education News for 09-27-2012

in

State Education News

  • More high schools teaching personal finance (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Dozens of Ohio high schools are moving closer to complying with the state mandate to teach personal finance…Read more...

  • Schools that wiped out data the most take academic dive (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The Columbus schools that deleted the most student attendance records last year posted dramatic academic declines…Read more...

  • Report on TPS generally poor (Toledo Blade)

    • The Ohio Department of Education released a pared-down version of school report cards on Wednesday, withholding some of the most illuminating information while a statewide investigation…Read more...

  • Report cards incomplete (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

    • Based on preliminary report card data that the state released Wednesday, Warren City Schools are among those celebrating…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Akron, other Ohio urban school districts target attendance data system (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • Ohio’s eight largest big-city school districts say they have experienced numerous problems understanding…Read more...

  • Graduation rates fall on state's new Report (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • Graduation rates have plunged almost across the board at school districts in Southwest Ohio…Read more...

  • Some school districts may slip in ratings (Dayton Daily News)

    • A Dayton Daily News analysis of the incomplete 2011-12 state report cards released…Read more...

  • Bristol BOE OKs 3-year contract (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

    • The Bristol Board of Education on Wednesday approved a three-year contract with the district's employees…Read more...

  • CEO of Cleveland Schools expected to address "F" grade at State of Schools Address (WEWS)

    • CEO of Cleveland Schools Eric Gordon will host the State of Schools…Read more...

  • Cardinal School District facing fiscal emergency (Willoughby News Herald)

    • The outcome of a five-year 9.7-mill renewal levy in the Nov. 6 election will determine whether the Cardinal Local School District will be placed in a state of fiscal watch or emergency…Read more...

  • Incomplete Ohio report cards show few Valley changes (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Youngstown City Schools remain in academic watch, narrowly missing a continuous improvement designation…Read more...

Editorial

  • Booster rules, Court merger (Findlay Courier)

    • Sports and band booster clubs, and parent teacher organizations, serve an important function by aiding students…Read more...

Education News for 09-20-2012

in

State Education News

  • Little Miami to appeal state ruling on transfers (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • The financially troubled Little Miami Schools will appeal a state board ruling that may clear the way for a portion of its Warren County district to transfer…Read more...

  • 37 state schools to brainstorm on saving (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Officials from all 37 Ohio public colleges and universities are to meet today to discuss how they can reduce costs to students and taxpayers and improve efficiencies…Read more...

  • District warned of fiscal emergency (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • Nearly 100 residents, teachers and other school employees packed Mathews High School cafeteria Wednesday evening to hear an Ohio Department of Education official warn about the consequences…Read more...

Local Education News

  • Revere reaches contract with workers (Akron Beacon Journal)

    • The Revere school board has reached a new contract with one of its unions…Read more...

  • CPS approves teacher evaluation system (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • The Cincinnati school board Wednesday unanimously approved a new teacher evaluation policy that grades teachers on their students' academic growth…Read more...

  • Cleveland parents get lessons in truancy and curfew dangers (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Missing curfew and being truant might seem like small violations, but if students aren't where they are supposed to be, they're more likely to be in a place where they'll get into trouble…Read more...

  • School building study discussed (Findlay Courier)

    • The Arcadia school board was given a homework assignment Wednesday to study an analysis of its school facilities…Read more...

  • Drug test program is for volunteers (Warren Tribune Chronicle)

    • The new voluntary random drug testing program at the high school provides students with one more avenue for saying no to drugs, Principal Mary Walker said…Read more...

Editorial

  • A flawed attempt at an in-school seclusion policy for Ohio (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

    • Thank goodness the Ohio Board of Education's first crack at outlining the appropriate use of restraints and seclusion to isolate troubled youngsters is just an ill-conceived draft…Read more...

  • Third-grade goal (Columbus Dispatch)

    • With a recent vote to set a cut-off score for Ohio’s new “third-grade reading guarantee,” the state Board of Education has drawn a reasonable line for determining which children are struggling…Read more...

Education News for 08-23-2012

in

State Education News

  • Teach for America recruits get feet wet at local schools (Cincinnati Enquirer)

    • As students across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky return to school this month, some will be taught by a new breed of teacher: graduates of the first-ever class of Teach for America-Southwest Ohio...Read more...

  • College freshmen perceive world differently (Columbus Dispatch)

    • Incoming U.S. college students have never seen a paper airline ticket, like to watch television on almost anything but a television...Read more...

  • Inmates facing long wait for a GED (Columbus Dispatch)

    • About 12 percent of Ohio prisoners are enrolled in education programs, with more than 2,100 receiving a high-school equivalence certificate...Read more...

  • School districts eye shared services to save money (Newark Advocate)

    • Licking Heights and Southwest Licking local schools are in the process of narrowing down a list of possible shared services, with an eye on saving money. Treasurers from the two neighboring school districts have been meeting...Read more...

  • Report says state knew of TPS practice on attendance (Toledo Blade)

    • State education officials were told directly by Toledo Public Schools staff at least four years ago about the district's policy to withdraw and then re-enroll habitually truant students...Read more...

  • Ohio students test better on ACT than national average (Willoughby News Herald)

    • Ohio students have once again tested above the national average on the ACT, according to results released Wednesday. Ohio’s class of 2012 had a composite score of 21.8 in English...Read more...

Local Education News

    Copley administrator takes on two roles (Akron Beacon Journal)

    Copley High School’s new acting principal is a familiar face in the district. Aaron Sable will greet students in a return role when students begin classes today. On Tuesday, the Copley- Fairlawn Board of Education announced his hiring...Read more...

  • Private-school parents sue Northridge schools over busing (Columbus Dispatch)

    • The bus wasn’t going to pick up his kids for their first day of school on Monday, not until Bill Jones fought back. It took a meeting with a Licking County judge yesterday to keep the wheels rolling...Read more...

  • Carey board buys computer system (Findlay Courier)

    • Carey school board recently approved the purchase of a new wireless computer system for the district, according to The Progressor-Times newspaper...Read more...

  • Tentative pact with teachers reached (Findlay Courier)

    • North Baltimore school officials and its teachers' union have reached a tentative contract agreement, the two sides announced Wednesday. Details of the offer were not released...Read more...

  • Amherst schools blame glitch for mass callings (Lorain Morning Journal)

    • Amherst schools got off to a rocky second day of the school year yesterday when parents and guardians for the roughly 4,000 youths students...Read more...

  • Early readers get a boost from donors (Marion Star)

    • Bedtime stories can do more than get a child off to sleep. Reading them to your children may give them the power later in life to learn and earn...Read more...

  • Local officials urge governor to restore funds (Toledo Blade)

    • Elected officials, police and fire union leaders, and public agency representatives called on Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday to restore funds that were cut from local government, schools, and libraries as part of Ohio's two-year budget...Read more...

  • Cleveland: A critical school year ahead (WKYC)

    • The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is facing a critical start to the school year. The district is grappling with layoffs, shorter school days and a mega-levy on the ballot in November...Read more...

Editorial

  • Crescendo schools scandal shows why teachers need due process (Los Angeles Times)

    • The shameful cheating at the now-closed Crescendo charter schools shows why legislative attempts to strip teachers of due process before they can be fired...Read more...

  • Don’t Y’town residents realize clock’s ticking on city schools? (Youngstown Vindicator)

    • There’s a lot to chew on in the report by the Harwood Institute For Public Innovation on the community’s attitude toward the Youngstown City School District...Read more...

Education News for 08-02-2012

in

Statewide Stories of the Day

  • Democrats want to view state auditor’s school-attendance investigation (Dispatch)

    • The Ohio Democratic Party asked state Auditor Dave Yost last week to turn over records into the investigation of school districts rigging their state report-card data. Yost, a Republican, charged yesterday that the Democratic Party is meddling in a continuing investigation. “It’s a partisan political organization that exists for the purpose of electing Democrats and harassing Republicans,” Yost said. “That doesn’t belong in the middle of this work.” Read more...

  • TPS may reduce Nov. levy request (Blade)

    • Toledo Public Schools could reduce its upcoming levy request, after reports of a better-than-expected financial picture indicate projected deficits may be smaller than expected. The Toledo Board of Education is expected to call a special meeting Friday, during which TPS Treasurer Matt Cleland plans to propose a range of millage rates lower than the 6.9-mill new permanent levy request approved in May by the board. TPS ended the 2012 fiscal year on Tuesday with $8.58 million more than expected. The original projected surplus was $2.64 million. Read more...

  • Lockland puts superintendent on leave (Enquirer)

    • Lockland’s school board late Wednesday placed longtime Superintendent Donna Hubbard on paid administrative leave. Hubbard has worked for the tiny Hamilton County school district for about 37 years. Board President Terry Gibson said the board thought it appropriate to put her on leave while it investigates allegations of enrollment practices that resulted in low-scoring students being coded as withdrawn from the schools, which state officials say resulted in artificially inflated test scores. Read more...

Local Issues

  • Lake freezes teachers' pay, opens doors of new school (Blade)

    • MILLBURY - Lake Local Schools officials approved a contract Wednesday that freezes teachers' pay and increases their medical insurance cost, then proudly toured their new high school with members of the media. The glistening high school replaces the former building that was mostly destroyed by a tornado in June, 2010. The 144,000-square-foot facility that cost $25.5 million -- none of which came from local taxpayers -- features 28 classrooms and will house 450 students when classes start Aug. 21. Read more...

  • Heights pledges to pay bill, demands preschool funds (Newark Advocate)

    • PATASKALA - Licking Heights officials reiterate that they intend to pay back the Licking County Educational Service Center the money the school district owes the center. In the meantime, district officials continue to press the ESC to release state funding, pegged at between $78,000 and $156,000 a year, that they contend should go to Heights' preschool students with special needs. "We're certainly looking at paying what's owed, but we still contend we need that (special needs preschool) unit funding they're blocking from the state.” Read more...

  • North Olmsted offering before school care program (WOIO 19 CBS)

    • The North Olmsted Before School Care Program will be offered at two school locations for students in grades K - 3rd. Birch Primary School (24100 Palm Dr.) for Birch and Butternut students and Forest Primary School (28963 Tudor Dr.) for Forest and Spruce students. The program times are 7:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. on all days that school is in session. Cost of the program is $75.00 per quarter/per child. Students from Butternut and Spruce Primary Schools will be taken by district transportation to their school of attendance for the start of the regular school day. Read more...

  • Councilman would vote for charter schools after abstention (Blade)

    • A Toledo councilman who abstained Tuesday on two votes involving requests for new charter schools to open in the city admitted he should have voted and now wants the chance to do so. That could clear the way for one of the schools to open downtown. "I needed further clarification on the rule because I made a mistake in not understanding this rule of council and at the time, I labored under the belief that I could abstain," Councilman Tyrone Riley said Wednesday. Read more...

Editorial

  • Improve the system (Dispatch)

    • As allegations of attendance-report rigging by Columbus City Schools and other districts spread, many are wondering if the annual school report cards put out by the state can be trusted. After all, if some districts have doctored their attendance figures in ways that make their proficiency-test passing rates look better than they are, then voters who are asked to pass school levies have no way of judging if they’re getting what they’re paying for. Others have gone a step further and said that if some school officials feel it necessary to cheat in order to improve district report cards. Read more...

Education News for 05-31-2012

in

State Education News

  • State Gets Go-Ahead To End Federal Tutoring Program (WBNS)

    • The state auditor was investigating allegations of fraudulent billing in connection with a federal tutoring program, 10TV’s Kristyn Hartman reported on Wednesday. Officials from the Ohio Department of Education said that they wanted to get rid of the federally funded tutoring program designed to help students at underperforming schools. The Supplemental Educational Services program, part of the No Child Left Behind program, is designed to gives students help outside of the classroom. Read More...

  • Educators, Parents Call For Better Funding For Ohio Public Schools (ONN)

    • Parents and educators from Cincinnati protested in front of the Ohio Statehouse Wednesday afternoon. At the center of controversy Wednesday was an education funding formula that many believe puts some districts at a disadvantage. "We have to raise money by selling wrapping paper in order to have enough pencils for our children to take tests, but literally 20 minutes away every child has a laptop," said Ruth Ann Wolfe. Read More...

Local Issues

  • Area educators react to decision on No Child Left Behind change in Ohio (News Herald)

    • Area educators are expressing mixed reaction to this week's announcement that Ohio schools will be freed from several regulations of the No Child Left Behind Act. The U.S. Department of Education approved the state's waiver application Tuesday. Schools in the state will now be given greater flexibility to meet accountability standards, including removal of some reporting requirements, and they will also have more freedom in use of federal funds, according to the Ohio Department of Education. Read More...

  • Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's bid for local control of charter schools fits national push for accountability (Plain Dealer)

    • Mayor Frank Jackson's bid for more local control of charter schools in Cleveland wasn't a big reach by national standards. Most states require charter schools -- public schools that receive tax money, but are privately run -- to be created through major educational institutions such as local school districts, universities or the state education department. Read More...

  • Utica High School Students To Receive iPads (WBNS )

    • UTICA, Ohio - North Fork Local Schools officials said that they will lease 560 iPads to students in the next four years, 10TV News reported on Wednesday. According to administrators, the tablets would be paid for using money that would have been used to purchase textbooks and paper. Read More...

  • Picture of inspiration goes viral (Dispatch)

    • By the second lap, Matt Woodrum had slowed down. The fifth-grader with cerebral palsy clearly was in pain. 'You’re not stopping, are you?' his gym teacher asked, already knowing the answer. 'No.' Matt pushed on. The determination that the 11-year-old showed in completing the 400-meter race on May 16 inspired not only his classmates and school officials, but also viewers around the world who have seen the viral YouTube video online. Read More...

  • ODE: Monroe taking right path to emerge from fiscal emergency (Middletown Journal News)

    • MONROE — Monroe stakeholders have taken the right approach to reach financial solvency for the school district, a state education official said. Roger Hardin of the Ohio Department of Education, said he’s seen a series of trends when it comes to dealing with fiscal emergencies in school districts. Read More...

Editorial & Opinion

  • New opportunity (Findlay Courier)

    • Now that Ohio has been granted relief from some federal education mandates, lawmakers and educators need to raise the bar in education. The No Child Left Behind Act, which has been in place since 2001, requires states, among other things, to test students in reading and math in order to receive federal dollars. Those states which don't have a 100 percent compliance rate by 2014 would risk losing federal money. Read More...

  • Proficient learners (Beacon Journal)

    • In 2001, education reformers on Capitol Hill and the White House set a high goal for the nation’s public schools: The No Child Left Behind Act would ensure that every child was proficient in math and reading by 2013-14. States would set proficiency targets and measure districts and schools on Adequate Yearly Progress. Progressively stern interventions awaited districts and schools that failed persistently to make the required progress. Read More...

  • Keeping No Child Left Behind waiver is Ohio's next challenge: editorial (Plain Dealer)

    • It's no surprise that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave Ohio and seven other states a waiver Tuesday from some of the most onerous and unattainable mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. Eleven other states have gotten waivers -- and more, if not all, probably will end up with them, given the impossibility of meeting the mandate that 100 percent of students test proficient in math and reading by 2014. Read More...

  • Get on board (Dispatch)

    • With the federal government’s decision to free Ohio from the unrealistic mandates of the No Child Left Behind law, state lawmakers have even greater obligation to come to terms with Gov. John Kasich’s efforts to move schools toward academic improvement. Read More...