1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet in
session and hold committee hearings this week.
*On March 21, 2008 Governor Strickland signed into law HB496 (Hottinger),
which makes capital reappropriations ending June 30, 2010 for state
projects, departments, and agencies.
*Governor Strickland signed on March 27, 2008 Executive Order 2008-05S,
called "Making Ohio More Competitive in the Global Economy by
Consolidating and Transitioning Ohio's Workforce Development Programs".
Through this order the Governor realigned the responsibilities for certain
job training and education programs administered by three agencies: the
Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), the Ohio Board of Regents (OBOR),
and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The ODOD will
now be responsible for workforce development relating to businesses; the
OBOR will be responsible for workforce development relating to skill
development and job training; and the ODJFS will be responsible for
workforce development that assists Ohioans in competing in the State's
evolving job market. The following changes were directed by Governor
Strickland, and will be implemented by no later than July 1, 2008:
-The ODJFS will transfer authority to the ODOD for employer-focused
programs supported with Workforce Investment Act (WIA) discretionary
funding; administration of lay-off aversion and incumbent worker services;
One-Stop business support services; and business services which facilitate
the efforts of employers to expand in, or relocate to, Ohio (known as
Wagner-Peyser business services).
-The OBOR will transfer authority for the targeted industries training
grants programs to ODOD.
-The ODJFS will transfer authority for the Ohio Skills Bank program to
OBOR.
To read the Executive Order please visit
http://governor.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=912
2) This Week at the Statehouse:
*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by
Senator Carey, will meet on Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 2:30 PM or after
session in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The Committee will hear
testimony on several bills, including HB381 (Webster), which will increase
funds available for the Ohio Research Scholars Program, and permit a
nonpublic four-year Ohio university to submit a proposal for the Ohio
Research Scholars Program.
*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will meet on
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The Committee
will consider the appointment by Governor Strickland of Jerome R. Brockway
to the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, and hear testimony on
two bills: SB57 (Coughlin), which establishes the Special Education
Scholarship Program, and SB270 (Cates), school employee misconduct.
3) Education Reform Plan Discussed: Dr. John Stanford, Governor
Strickland's Education Policy Assistant, met with education and citizen
advocacy groups on March 28, 2008 to discuss three documents: "Summary of
Education Reform Process", "Director of Education Proposal", and the
"Governor's Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education".
Dr. Stanford reviewed the process that has been followed over the past
year to meet with a variety of stakeholder groups and gather ideas about
the vision, principles, and goals for a P-16 education reform plan that
will guide Ohio's public education system in the 21st Century. Dr.
Stanford stressed that it is not enough to just fix school funding.
Governor Strickland believes that it is necessary to develop an education
reform plan that will tackle many education policy issues. Dr. Stanford
asked participants to review the documents and respond by April. In May
these ideas will be collected and shared with participants of the
Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education, which will be held
in June 2008.
According to Dr. Stanford, the Governor's Education Reform Plan will be
rolled out in 2009, and the General Assembly will be asked to take action
on any legislative recommendations. If there is no interest by the
General Assembly to move on the legislative recommendations, the Governor
will consider developing the recommendations into a statewide initiative,
and ask voters to decide its outcome in November 2009. Legislation to
create the director of education position will be introduced soon, and it
is the intention of the Governor to have this legislation approved this
year.
The following is a summary of the contents of the documents:
*"Summary of Education Reform Process": Dr. Stanford explained that the
four page document reflected the education policy ideas that were
collected from meetings of stakeholder groups held in 2007 in Phase I of
the process. These ideas do not necessarily reflect the views of Governor
Strickland, but are included to generate further conversations. The ideas
are organized under the following topics: state accountability; district
school board and governing authority leadership; charter school
accountability; quality teaching; professional learning communities;
creative, innovative, and safe learning environments; closing the
achievement and graduation gaps; standards and testing; and adequate
funding.
Under phase two of the process to develop an education reform plan for
Ohio (March - October 2008), the Governor's Office will create a committee
to review education and tax policy changes since 1997, and identify
potential efficiencies that may be gained by sharing services,
collaboration, ESC reform, and pooled purchasing. A research and resource
committee will also be created that will include organizations such as
KnowledgeWorks, the Cleveland Foundation, Ohio Grantmakers Forum, the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
During Phase III of the process (April 2008 - October 2008) the Governor's
Office will co-host with the Governor's Institute for Creativity and
Innovation an Education Reform Summit in each of the 12 economic
development regions. Discussions are underway to televise these meetings.
The Governor's Institute for Creativity and Innovation will also hold a
summer institute in June 2008. A virtual town hall forum will also be
developed for the internet.
The education reform plan will be drafted during Phase IV of the
process -- October 2008 to March 2009.
*Director of Education Proposal: Legislation is currently being drafted
to create the position of Director of Education for Ohio. At this time a
sponsor for the bill has not been identified. According to the document,
all of the functions currently assigned to the State Board of Education
(SBE) and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, would be assigned to
the Director of Education, except for the constitutionally mandated
appointment by the SBE of the superintendent, who would continue to
service as secretary, executive, and administrative officer of the SBE.
The proposed legislation would create a cabinet level director of
education similar to the chancellor of higher education. The director
would be appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation, and serve a
five year term of office.
All current regulations and contracts established by the SBE would be
deemed promulgated by the Ohio Department of Education from the date of
enactment of the legislation.
The State Board of Education would operate as an independent education
policy and administrative watchdog and be responsible for preparing an
annual report regarding education for the Governor and Ohio General
Assembly. The SBE would also review and make recommendations to the
director regarding creation and chartering of schools and districts;
transfer of property between districts; policies and procedures associated
with the administration of voucher programs; licensing standards; and
operational and academic standards.
The legislation will also guarantee that all existing policy, program, and
procedural requirements regarding vouchers and charter schools would be
preserved.
*Governor's Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education: The
purpose of the Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education is to
"...bring together educators and various community leaders to share ideas
and strategies for creating a transformational vision that will
personalize Ohio's public education systems and infuse creativity and
innovation throughout each classroom across the state." Through this
process it is hoped that best practices for a personalized, flexible, and
adaptable education system for the 21st Century will be developed.
Dr. Stanford and First Lady Frances Strickland have assembled a project
team to explore the factors necessary for long lasting transformational
change. This project team has coordinated two learning sessions for
educators and community leaders. The purpose of these sessions is to
design a curriculum and content for an Institute, which will be held on
June 19-21, 2008 (tentative date) for approximately 700 education and
community stakeholders.
The Institute will provide a way to examine the link between learning
environments that nurture and foster creativity, innovation, global
competence, and economic resurgence, as well as identify creative and
innovative educators who achieve results with no additional resources.
Through this Institute the Governor's Office hopes to establish the value
that "every child advances when exposed to many and varied opportunities
designed to help them find and develop their deepest talent and
abilities".
*Discussion: After Dr. Stanford presented an overview of the documents,
representatives from statewide education organizations and other groups
asked questions and discussed the contents and next steps of the
proposals. The following is a general summary of some of the comments and
questions from participants:
-The Governor's vision, goals, and principles for education should be
included in future discussion documents, to clarify for the public and the
media what is trying to be accomplished.
-The public is not clamoring for year round school, end of course exams,
or other suggested changes. How will the public be included in the
process, and what strategies will be used to prepare the public for
change? What strategies are being developed to counteract any backlash
from the public?
-What kind of specificity will the education reform plan include? How are
certain constituencies such as students with disabilities and students who
are gifted education included? What about per pupil ratios for nurses,
counselors, and PE teachers? What about curricular areas such as Health?
What about all day Kindergarten?
-How does the work of the transformational dialogue and Institute for
Creativity and Innovation align?
-How will the education reform plan align with the requirements and
restrictions of NCLB?
-Will the education reform plan address school district compliance with
Operating Standards?
-How is the education reform plan aligned to the work of the Chancellor of
Higher Education?
-There is a disconnect between what the Governor is saying about charter
schools and vouchers and the ideas in the proposal. It will be difficult
for some constituencies to support the recommendations for vouchers and
charter schools.
-Many people oppose the director of education concept.
-What is the purpose of our education system? What are we preparing
students to be? Is it to prepare citizens or workers? How will the vision
align with the curriculum? This must be decided before the education
reform plan can be developed.
4) Tax Exempt Status Challenged: The Ohio Federation of Teachers, Sue
Taylor President, held a news conference on March 27, 2008 to explain the
action that the OFT was taking regarding the tax exempt status of certain
charter schools in Ohio. The OFT is requesting that the Internal Revenue
Service investigate the tax exempt status of charter schools managed by
White Hat Management, Inc. and its affiliates under Section 501(c)(3) of
federal law. The OFT alleges that certain charter schools run by the
profit-making management company White Hat Management, Inc, do not qualify
for tax exempt status. The letter notes several discrepancies between how
the schools are operated and the laws/rules governing tax exempt status in
the following areas:
-Lack of independent governing boards to operate the schools as
independent community schools, and the promotion of these schools by White
Hat as its franchise
-Overlapping membership of the governing authorities
-Questionable compensation rates of between 95-97 percent of state and
federal funds for White Hat Management as the operator of the schools
-Questionable compensation for members of the board of directors, who
sometimes serve on as many as 19 boards at the same time
The 25 schools that are being challenged include "Life Skills Centers" and
"Hope Academies", and others that have applied for tax exempt status under
Section 501(c)(3). Ohio law requires that charter schools be incorporated
as either a non-profit corporation or a public benefit corporation.
It is not certain when or if the IRS will take action on this request.
For more information please visit the OFT web site at
http://www.oft-aft.org/.
5) Annenberg Releases Preview of Findings: The Annenberg Institute for
School Reform released on March 26, 2008 a preview of findings of a six
year study called "Organized Communities, Stronger Schools" by Kavitha
Mediratta, Seema Shah, Sara McAlister, Norm Fruchter, Christina Mokhtar,
and Dana Lockwood. The final report will be released in the summer of
2008.
The preview of findings shows that communities that organize at the
grassroots level improved school-community relationships, parent
involvement and engagement, teacher collegiality, teacher morale, and
increased at several sites student attendance, standardized-test-score
performance, graduation rates, and college-going aspirations.
Participating in grassroots organizing efforts also increased the
motivation and involvement of young people in civic engagement activities.
The following seven organized efforts were included in the study: The
Austin Interfaith (Alliance Schools Network); Chicago ACORN (Action Now is
now the new organization); Community Coalition for Substance Abuse
Prevention and Treatment, Los Angeles, CA (South Central Youth Empowered
thru Action); Eastern Pennsylvania Organizing Project (EPOP) Philadelphia,
PA; Youth United for Change, Philadelphia; Northwest Bronx Community and
Clergy Coalition; Oakland Community Organizations, Oakland, CA; and People
Acting for Community Together, Miami, FL.
According to the report, "Our findings suggest that organizing efforts are
influencing policy and resource distribution at the system level.
Officials, school administrators, and teachers in every site reported that
community organizing influenced policy and resource decisions to increase
equity and build capacity, particularly in historically low-performing
schools."
The report is available at
http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/OrganizedCommunities.pdf
6) Building a 21st Century U.S. Education System: The National
Commission on Teaching and America's Future has released a new book called
"Building a 21st Century U.S. Education System". The book is a
compilation of articles written by a variety of policy makers and
educators organized by topics. A list of the articles and authors
follows. The book is available online at
http://nctaf.org/resources/research_and_reports/nctaf_research_reports/Buildinga21stcenturyu.s.educationsystem.htm
Contents:
Foreword by Bob Wehling, "Building a 21st Century U.S. Education System"
Voices from the Field
-Rebecca Palacios, "Education and Freedom"
-Arlene Ackerman, "Sustaining School District Success: An Urban
Superintendent's Reflections"
-David Hornbeck, "The Missing Ingredient in School Reform: A Political
Base"
Preparing and Supporting 21st Century Teachers
-Thomas G. Carroll, "Teaching for the Future"
-Arthur E. Wise, "Teaching Teams in Professional Development Schools: A
21st Century Paradigm for Organizing America's Schools and Preparing the
Teachers in Them"
-Linda Darling-Hammond, "Building a System of Powerful Teaching and
Learning"
-Barbara Kelley, "Teacher Recruitment, Preparation, Induction, Retention,
and Distribution"
-Ken Howey and Nancy Zimpher, "Creating P-16 Urban Systemic Partnerships
to Address Core Structural Problems in the Educational Pipeline"
-Carri Schneider and Ted Zigler, "View from the Trenches: Two
Practitioners Reflect on the Need for a National System of Educational
Leadership Preparation"
Political Context of 21st Century Education
-Diane Ravitch, "Ensuring Access to a World-Class Education"
-Bob Sexton and Jacob Adams, "Changing the Dynamics of Educational
Governance: Why Improving America's Schools Requires More than Changing
Who's in Charge"
-Jim Hunt, "Making Politics Work to Dramatically Improve American
Education"
-Richard Riley, "Charting a New Course in American Education"
Education and the Global Economy
-Ed Rust, "Education and the Economy"
-Kent Seidel, "The World is Flat, and U.S. Education has Flat-Lined:
Designing an Information Infrastructure to Support a Globally Competitive
Educational System"
Creating 21st Century Learning Organizations
-Mary Hatwood Futrell, "A Nation of Locksmiths: Transforming Our Education
System to Guarantee All of America's Children a Quality Education"
-Peggy Siegel, "Transforming Education: In Search of a 21st Century
Solution"
-James Kelly, "Looking Back, Thinking Ahead"
-Chad Wick, "The Meek Shall Inherit the Public Schools: Who Will Be Left
Behind in the Learning Economy?"
Conclusion - Bob Wehling, "Together We Can"
7) What's going on with all these committees and meetings?
An update about some of the current statewide activities regarding
education.
Recently there has been a flurry of meetings at the state level that
relate to education. Some of these meetings have focused on education
reform, licensure, school funding, closing the achievement gap, innovation
and creativity, the role of the arts in Ohio, preparing students for the
future, STEM, etc. Some of these efforts are being directed by Governor
Strickland and his office, while others are related to the work of the
State Board of Education; the Partnership for Continued Learning; the
University System of Ohio; the Ohio Department of Education; or
foundations and other statewide organizations. The following is an
update, to the best of my knowledge, of just some of the activities that
are impacting Ohio's public education system:
GOVERNOR STRICKLAND
Dr. John Stanford, Education Policy Assistant
*Transformational Dialogue. This is a group of stakeholders that is
meeting to discuss how to create and sustain transformational change in
Ohio's education system. More stakeholders are expected to be included in
this dialogue through the Generative Spiral Dialogue Process that is being
used. The work of this group has influenced other education initiatives,
including the Governor's Institute for Creativity and Innovation in
Education.
*Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education. The purpose of the
Institute for Creativity and Innovation in Education is to "...bring
together educators and various community leaders to share ideas and
strategies for creating a transformational vision that will personalize
Ohio's public education systems and infuse creativity and innovation
throughout each classroom across the state." Best practices for a
personalized, flexible, and adaptable education system for the 21st
Century will be identified through this process. Dr. John Stanford and
First Lady Frances Strickland have assembled a project team to explore the
factors necessary for long lasting transformational change, and two
learning sessions for educators and community leaders have been held. The
purpose of these sessions was to design a curriculum and content for an
Institute, which will be held on June 19-21, 2008 (tentative dates) for
approximately 700 education and community stakeholders.
*Education Reform Summits. These summits will be held in July-October,
2008 in each of the 12 economic development regions in Ohio. These
summits will provide the public with the opportunity to discuss the
proposed ideas included in Governor Strickland's Education Reform Plan.
*Policy and Legislative Review Committee: This committee is being
proposed to review education and tax policy changes since 1997, and
identify potential efficiencies in education operations.
*Research and Resource Committee: This committee is being proposed to
provide support for Governor Strickland's Education Reform Plan.
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF OHIO
Chancellor Eric Fingerhut
*Seniors to Sophomores Program: This new program was announced during
Governor Strickland's State of the State Address. It will provide
eligible high school students with the opportunity to earn high school
credits and college credits during their senior year. An eligible high
school student is one who has passed all parts of the OGT; completed
Algebra II or the equivalent with a grade of "C" or better; completed
three years of high school English with a grade of "C" or better, and
scored college ready on the college partner's placement assessment as
currently defined by the college. Students will not have to pay tuition.
The Board of Regents, Ohio Department of Education, and Partnership for
Continued Learning will be working with teams composed of public high
schools and colleges to develop and pilot partnership programs this year
(Early Adopters), and will evaluate and expand them in 2009.
Approximately $4 million has been set aside to support this program.
Partnerships can receive up to $100,000 for planning, encouraging high
school students to participate, and implementing the program. 47
applications have been submitted so far from those interested in
participating as early adopters. According to Chancellor Fingerhut, early
adopters will provide models for how partnerships between higher education
and schools can overcome obstacles and develop innovative solutions to
implement and financially support the Seniors to Sophomores Initiative and
dual enrollment programs, such as the Post Secondary Enrollment Options
Program.
PARTNERSHIP FOR CONTINUED LEARNING
The Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL) was established in 2005
by the Ohio General Assembly, and is chaired by the governor. The
Partnership's membership includes leaders from education, business and
industry, economic development, and government and local communities. The
Partnership is charged in statute to make policy recommendations for
improving P-16 alignment and support regional P-16 efforts.
*Regional P16 Councils: According to 126-SB6 the Partnership is charged
with promoting systemic approaches to education by supporting regional
efforts to foster collaboration among providers of preschool through
postsecondary education and identifying workforce needs. In the Fall of
2006, the KnowledgeWorks Foundation supported the formation of five
Regional P-16 Councils in Ohio by offering a competitive request for
proposals (RFP) for a P-16 planning grant. In 2007 the Partnership
expanded Ohio's regional P-16 Councils by offering a second competitive
planning grant RFP for five additional regional councils. A new request
for proposal is available to support new P16 Councils or expand existing
councils. This RFP seeks to serve two purposes: to continue to support
the formation of regional P-16 councils in economic development regions of
the state that do not currently have P-16 councils; and in economic
development regions where councils already exist, to encourage expansion
of coverage, and/or collaboration between Regional P-16 Councils within
these regions.
*Public Private Collaborative Commission (P2C2): The P2C2 is directed to
submit policy and program recommendations to the Governor, Ohio General
Assembly, the Partnership for Continued Learning, the State Board of
Education, and Ohio Board of Regents by June 30, 2008 regarding a number
of issues related to the Ohio Core legislation, SB 311.
*STEM: Included in the FY08-09 budget (Am. Sub. HB 119-Dolan) are funds
for institutions of higher education and school districts to provide
incentives for students to pursue careers in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM), develop STEM schools, and improve teacher
preparation and instruction in STEM content. A subcommittee of the
Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL) recently selected the Cleveland
Metropolitan School District (and partners) and Wright State University
(and partners) to receive the STEM High School award. The PCL also
selected Westlake City School District, New Lebanon, Fort Recovery,
Cincinnati, Worthington, Miller-North Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and
Canton to receive the K-8 STEM Program of Excellence awards. These awards
will support the creation of STEM high schools and STEM programs of
excellence for the 2008-2009 school year. A total of $6 million in state
funds will be allocated to these recipients. Individual grants average
approximately $700,000.
On January 30, 2008 the Battelle Memorial Institute announced the
formation of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, funded by a $12 million grant
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This network and Battelle
will support the STEM schools and programs.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
*School Funding Subcommittee: The State Board of Education's School
Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, has been developing
"options" that the State Board of Education may select to address specific
school funding issues. These options may be included in the FY 2010-2011
budget recommendations, currently being prepared by the SBE. This
subcommittee is working to find the answers to school funding questions,
such as how much money/resources are needed to educate students in Ohio;
how should the system be funded at the state and local levels; what
incentives, rewards, and consequences should there be; and how do we
ensure that all money is being used effectively and efficiently to achieve
the best results?
*Student Knowledge and Skills for the New Global Economy: The State Board
of Education's Subcommittee on Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE),
chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, is gathering information to
identify the knowledge and skills that Ohio's students will need to be
better prepared and more productive in the highly competitive environment
of the new global economy. The EDGE subcommittee is currently developing
a "top ten" list of skills that students need to be competitive in the
global economy. The work of this subcommittee may be incorporated into
the FY 2010-2011 legislative and policy recommendations currently being
prepared by the SBE.
*Middle to High Schools Subcommittee: The State Board of Education's
Middle to High School Subcommittee is chaired by Carl Wick. It is
overseeing the implementation of recommendations developed by the High
Schools Task Force, and has worked on Ohio Core legislation, requirements
for the honor diploma, indicators for the Local Report Card, and the Post
Secondary Enrollment Options Program. It is currently reviewing efforts
to support performance based assessments and the Bridge Program for at
risk students.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
*The Committee on Arts and Innovative Thinking (CAIT): This committee was
appointed by the Ohio Department of Education, and includes two members of
the State Board of Education, Colleen Grady and Susan Haverkos. The
purpose of this committee is to promote and advance the arts in the lives
of all Ohio students through strategic actions, communications, and policy
recommendations. At the March 2008 meeting committee members identified
the critical needs that an education in the arts addresses in the lives of
all Ohioans.
*Educator License/Grade Bands: The ODE Center for the Teaching Profession
is leading this effort to reexamine Ohio's educator licensure grade bands,
and has appointed an advisory group of stakeholders to examine several
options for a new teacher grade band system for Birth (Age 0) through
grade 12. The current grade band system is almost a decade old, and some
problems have been identified. A new licensure structure is needed to
increase the number of highly qualified teachers, employment
opportunities, and provide administrators with more hiring flexibility.
*Entry-year Advisory Committee: In 2007 the ODE formed a stakeholder's
group to review the educator licensure program, including teacher entry
year and teacher induction. The current program was established in 1996.
Stakeholders are now considering how the entry year aligns with Ohio's
Educator and Professional Development Standards; how to promote best
practices in teacher preservice programs; how to provide better training
for teacher mentors; and how to promote a more uniform structure for the
student teaching experience. HB 347 (Setzer), which calls for changes in
how teachers are licensed, was introduced by Representative Setzer, chair
of the House Education Committee. The ODE's stakeholders group is now
working with Representative Setzer to amend HB347 to support a
comprehensive teacher preservice and entry year program. The State Board
of Education's Capacity Committee will hear an update on the work of this
advisory committee in April 2008.
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