DFER Ohio
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Democrats for Education Reform Applauds Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's Determination to Save Public Education
April 2, 2012
Democrats for Education Reform Applauds Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's Determination to Save Public Education
The following statement was issued today by Joe Williams, executive director of Democrats for Education Reform:
"Cleveland, Ohio Mayor Frank Jackson is absolutely right that bold action is needed today to save public education. In addition to offering greater opportunities for students in his city, Mayor Jackson is making a case to taxpayers that public education is worth saving and that it won't be business-as-usual under his watch. The public has long told us that it is more than willing to support public education when leaders like Mayor Jackson make a convincing case that we are making the kinds of bold changes that are necessary to improve outcomes for students. Without this kind of visionary leadership, public education in Cleveland can be expected to continue to spiral downward with little support from taxpayers."
REPUBLICAN FY 2013 BUDGET PROPOSAL
March 29, 2012
REPUBLICAN FY 2013 BUDGET PROPOSAL
DRAMATIC AND RECKLESS CUTS TO EDUCATION SPENDING
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives began debate on its budget proposal for FY 2013, the upcoming fiscal year that begins October 1st. The debate resumes on the House floor today.
In Ohio:
• Almost 10,000 children will be eliminated from the Head Start program;
• Nearly 55,000 students with disabilities' costs will shift to states and districts as part of cuts to IDEA; and,
• Approximately 170,000 students from historically disadvantaged groups will have reduced or eliminated services due to Title I cuts.
Read more here.
Ohio Education Reform News Roundup
August 29, 2011
By Miesha Headen, DFER Ohio State Director
Many things are in happening across the Ohio education reform landscape. Here are some we think are particularly notable:
Expanding School Choice in Ohio: The 2011 State budget increased the number of EdChoice vouchers available to students from 14,000 to 30,000. After the second application process closed on August 15th, the Ohio Department of Education reported that 17,003 students statewide have applied for EdChoice this year, including 1,623 new scholarship applicants and 58 students who applied for scholarship renewals. Interest in the scholarship has been growing as parents have learned more about the program and weighed their educational options.
The Tribune Today reports on how the expansion of the voucher program is affecting Mahoning County with a quote from School Choice Ohio's Executive Director, Chad Aldis.
Report Cards: The
Ohio Department of Education released report cards for all district schools on Tuesday, August 23rd. Of the 613 school districts in Ohio, 352 received the State's highest two designations, Excellent with Distinction and Excellent, while no districts fell into the lowest category, Academic Emergency, according to
State Impact Ohio. The report card "
heat map" (courtesy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer) also shows the school grades for every county in Ohio. The map highlights some of Ohio's less affluent, rural counties - such as Ashtabula, Pike, and Belmont - which also struggle with mediocre public schools.
Read more...
Mayor Frank Jackson: Courageous Democratic Leadership
June 28, 2011
By Miesha Headen, DFER Ohio State Director
Congratulations to Democratic Mayor Frank Jackson of Cleveland and Eric Gordon, the new CEO of Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), for their courageous stance in support of the educational achievement of students!
As reported in the
Plain Dealer, Mayor Jackson wrote a letter to Republican Governor John Kasich, Republican Senate President Tom Niehaus, and Republican Speaker of the House William Batchelder urging them to support these important educational reforms:
• Annual evaluations of teachers based at least 50% on student performance and growth measures;
• The end of reduction in force legislation that compels districts to lay-off teachers based solely on seniority;
• The establishment of merit pay for teachers; and,
• The fostering of collaboration between district and charter schools by having the enrollment numbers and test scores of district-sponsored charter schools count toward the overall district on the state report card.
The Republican controlled House of Representatives wrote these reforms into the Ohio bi-annual budget, known as House Bill 153. However, the Republican controlled Senate stripped out the amendments.
It is rumored that the Republican Senators fear reprisals from the unions and do not want to doubly anger them after their vote on Senate Bill 5.
Mayor Jackson is advocating for the reforms to be re-inserted during the joint caucuses.
Read more...
Why the Rancor Now? A Historic Perspective on Partnerships between Public and Private Schools
May 16, 2011
University School - African American Alumni Honor Former Upper School Director
By Miesha Headen, DFER Ohio State Director
Geoff Morton, former Director of the Upper School, is being honored during the 6th Annual African American University School Alumni & Parents Reception for his tireless efforts to recruit black students, mentor them, and oversee their matriculation into top-tier colleges.
As battles over "school choice" rage in the Ohio Statehouse, it is both delightful and timely that Morton is being honored. This serves to underscore that cooperative and congenial relationships between public and private schools have always existed for the benefit of children.
Recruiting promising black students to University School beginning in the 1960's, Geoff Morton built relationships with school leaders throughout the eastside of Cleveland. Morton once asked a guidance counselor, named Dorothea Brown, at Charles Elliot Middle School if she would get in trouble for referring students. She said, "I don't work for Cleveland. I work for the children."
Read more...
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