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here to go back to the LWVO Education Update Main Page To: LWVO From: Joan Platz Education Update for April 9, 2007 1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to meet this week. Subcommittees of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee will meet to continue hearing testimony on HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 Budget. (See #4 below.) *Governor Strickland announced last week that Representative Ken Cararno from the 59th House District has been appointed regional director for the Office of the Governor for the Mahoning Valley starting May 1, 2007. Representative Carano is expected to resign his seat in the Ohio House, and the House Democratic Caucus will conduct a search and recommend a replacement to complete his term. *Hearings continued last week in the Ohio House on HB119 (Dolan) the biennial budget for FY08-09. Proponents testified in support of the Executive Budget request for early childhood education and expansion of all day kindergarten; the expansion of the Help Me Grow program; the moratorium on charter schools and the elimination of the Educational Choice Scholarship Program; additional support for higher education; and continued support for the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Opponents of HB119's provisions regarding community schools and school voucher program asked lawmakers to eliminate the moratorium on the opening of new community school moratorium, and reinstate the voucher program for eligible students to attend private schools using public funds. The testimony of Chancellor of Higher Education, Eric Fingerhut, before the House Subcommittee on Higher Education is available at http://regents.ohio.gov/news/press_releases/EricTestimony4-4-07.pdf 2) Update on Federal Education Initiatives: *The U.S. House and Senate are on recess until mid April. The House approved its version of the FY08 federal budget in March, and will work with the Senate and its version of the budget (S.R. 21) to develop a compromise budget. The FY08 federal budget is expected to be approved in May, and be followed by the annual appropriation bills for departments and agencies. *National Voucher Bills Proposed: Representative "Buck" McKeon and Senator Lamar Alexander have introduced legislation called the Empowering Parents through Choice Act (H.R. 1486/S. 1014) that would authorized $300 million to pay up to $4000 to eligible students to pay for the tuition at private schools. Eligible students need to be attending public schools identified in need of restructuring. The legislation would allow students to take federal dollars allocated to public schools for intervention and student support services, and to use those dollars to pay the tuition for students, who may not need any intervention assistance, at private schools. The legislation stipulates that the private schools must be in close proximity to the public schools in order to be eligible. For information about the proposed legislation visit http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1140&Month=3&Year=2007 or http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=89&IID=4. 3) NCLB Reauthorization Update: The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Senator Kennedy, is currently working on the re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Several organizations at the state and national levels have issued their recommendations to improve NCLB during this process. To view some of the recommendations visit http://www.ri.gov/press/view.php?id=3885 (Recommendations from the National Governor's Association, Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Association of State Boards of Education.) On March 25, 2007 Diane Ravitch, historian of education and professor at New York University, published an essay at HuffingtonPost.com about NCLB, and stated that its goal for every student to be proficient in math and reading is unattainable. According to her essay, "...the goal of 100% proficiency for every student in the United States is unattainable. The fact is that no nation or state has ever achieved 100% proficiency. The only way to reach such a goal is to redefine "proficiency" to mean functional literacy." She also writes, "Since a school is declared to be "in need of improvement" if only one subgroup slips behind schedule, many fine schools across the nation have found themselves on that list and seen their reputation unfairly tarnished." "The biggest gripe of educators is that the law has turned public schools into testing factories. They complain that the only subjects that matter anymore are reading and math, and that other subjects and activities have been crowded out. The usual phrase is that the curriculum has been narrowed." "Second, it is also clear that the sanctions mandated by NCLB are not working. At a conference in November 2006 at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. , a series of commissioned papers by outstanding scholars and journalists reviewed what is happening in a variety of districts across the nation (the papers are listed here). The papers vividly demonstrated that, for a variety of reasons, only tiny proportions of students (often less than 5% of those eligible) were availing themselves of either choice or tutoring services." "Third, and for me of great importance, is the fact that there is no reason that the sanctions delineated in the law will necessarily produce better results." "So, I question why the federal government has written a law imposing sanctions that have no basis in experience." According to her essay, the law should be changed in the following ways: "First, the federal government should establish national standards in basic academic subjects (reading, mathematics, science, and history). Second, it should annually administer national examinations in those subjects. Third, it should make the results available to states and school districts." "It should be left to the states to decide which actions to take in response to this information. The states, working with the school districts, should decide which combination of rewards and sanctions will improve student achievement." 4) This Week at the Statehouse: PLEASE NOTE THE ROOM CHANGE FOR THE EDUCATION HEARINGS. TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007 The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education, chaired by Representative Schlichter, will meet at 9:00 AM in room 114 to hear testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan). The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Higher Education, chaired by Representative Webster, will meet at 11:00 AM in room 121 to hear testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan) from the Auditor of State. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2007 The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education, chaired by Representative Schlichter, will meet at 9:00 AM in room 114 to hear testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan). The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Higher Education, chaired by Representative Webster, will meet at 11:00 AM in room 121 to hear testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan). THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2007 The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Higher Education, chaired by Representative Webster, will meet at 9:00 AM in room 121 to hear testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan). The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education, chaired by Representative Schlichter, will meet at 9:00 AM in room 114 to testimony regarding the biennial budget (HB 119 - Dolan). 5) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on April 9-10, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH. The Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee, chaired by Carl Wick, will meet on April 9, 2007 at 8:30 AM in the Delaware Room at the Ohio School for the Deaf. The subcommittee will discuss the Post Secondary Enrollment Options recommendations of the Partnership for Continued Learning. The Executive Committee, chaired by Jennifer Sheets, will meet on April 9, 2007 at 8:30 AM in the Conference Room. The committee will review the agenda and receive updates from the Territory Transfer and Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee. The Capacity Committee, Sue Westendorf and Carl Wick co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Steve Millett, co-chairs, will meet at 10:15 AM. The Capacity Committee will discuss Rule 3301-102-08, community schools, expected gains in student achievement; community school sponsor evaluation; Rules 3301-40-03,05,06,07 nonpublic schools administrative cost reimbursements; definition and criteria of a "master teacher"; SB311, family and community engagement policy; and a model bullying and anti-harassment policy. The Achievement Committee will discuss the Perkins Transition Plan and intervention guidelines. Emerson Ross and Carl Wick will present state and federal reports on legislative activity at 11:30 AM. During lunch at 12:00 PM the Achieve Report Public Engagement Subcommittee, chaired by Steve Millett will meet. Members of the committee include Deborah Cain, Lou Ann Harrold, Eric Okerson, Jane Sonenshein, Sue Westendorf, and Ann Womer Benjamin. At 1:15 PM the board will hear a presentation and hold a discussion about Teacher Quality led by Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Zelman and Lou Staffilino, Associate Superintendent, Center for the Teaching Profession. At 3:15 PM Board members will present committee and individual reports. At 4:00 PM the State Board will conduct a Chapter 119 hearing on the following: *Amend OAC Rules 3301-11-01, 03, 04, 05, 07, and 11, Ohio Education Choice Scholarship Program. *Rescind OAC Rule 3301-13-07 and adopt Rule 3301-16-02, criteria for awarding the Diploma with Honors. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-16-01, GPA calculation for alternative pathway to graduation. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-38-01, transfer of region within the educational regional service system. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-58-01, 02 & 03, Value Added Progress Dimension. At 4:45 PM the State Board will review written reports and items to be considered during the business meeting. The Board will then adjourn. The Annual Retreat Planning Subcommittee will meet at 5:30 PM at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus, and the Territory Transfer Subcommittee will meet at 7:30 PM at the Embassy Suites Hotel to hear a presentation from citizens opposing the proposed deconsolidation of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School district. On April 10, 2007 the School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, will meet at 8:30 AM to discuss the next steps for implementation of Board recommendations regarding the document "A New Direction for Ohio's School Funding: Designing a System that Relates Resources to Results". The State Board of Education will meet as a committee of the whole at 10:00 AM and hear reports from Board members and committees. The business meeting will begin at 10:30 AM, and the Board will immediately convene into executive session. After the Board reconvenes it will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, public participation on agenda items, and take action on five personnel items, one territory transfer, and the following resolutions: #2 Approve an intent to rescind Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-21-01, definitions. #3 Approve an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-24-01, glossary/definitions. #4 Approve an intent to rescind Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-27-02, qualifications for athletic trainers. #5 Adopt standard scores indicative of advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the fifth grade science and social studies achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities; advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the seventh grade writing achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities; advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the eighth grade science and social studies achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities. #6 Adopt the Ohio One-Year Transitional Plan for the Administration of Career-Technical Education, July 11, 2007 through June 30, 2008.#11 Rescind Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-54-01, determining the amount of payment for contracted special education units, and amend Rule 3301-51-11, funding for preschool special education. The Board will then adjourn. For more information about the State Board of Education, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574 6) Who Cares About Public Education? The Public Education Network and the Gallup Organization sponsored a forum on March 26, 2007 to explore ways in which public education could be positioned as a national issue in the 2008 election. The forum, "Do Americans Care if Politicians Care About Public Education?", was led by Richard W. Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education and Thomas H. Kean, former governor of New Jersey. Forum panelists included Jonathan Alter, Newsweek; Ed Goeas, The Tarrance Group; Celinda Lake, Lake Research; Jim Margolis, GMMB; Jay Mathews, Washington Post; and Frank Newport, The Gallup Poll. Discussion topics included (1) How much does the American public care about public education? (2) How do Americans get candidates for political office to move public education to the top of their agendas? (3) Can public education become a major policy issue for voters in the next election cycle? How can the media be made to cover public education as an election issue? According to the polling information presented at the forum, education is a top priority of voters, but is competing for voter interest with the war in Iraq, affordable health care, and protecting the environment. Participants emphasized the importance of a public education system to our democratic way of government, and how public education is a responsibility of all. Speaking for the Public Education Network, President Wendy D. Puriefoy states, "Public education is the most important civic endeavor a democracy can undertake. Democracy's success -- indeed its very survival -- depends on a well-educated citizenry. Public education is the institution that equips us with the knowledge and skill we need to cope with the complex issues that confront us as families, as neighbors, as a nation, and as world citizens. Public education prepares future generations of leaders in all human endeavors and helps us to unlock the secrets of science and technology that explore new human and geographic frontiers. It shapes the art and literature that lifts our spirits." The following are some comments from the forum: "Our public education system is crucial to our democracy, a democracy that is still admired by many around the world." (Richard Riley) "I know all too well that should we allow our public schools to decline into a state that discredits our democracy, we could be all too vulnerable to a "terrorism" of a different type - the terrorism of ignorance." (Thomas Kean) "We will not have a system of public education that fully develops all the potential of our children unless every citizen is involved and every citizen believes that advocating and voting for quality public education is their personal responsibility." (Connie Rath, The Gallup Organization) "Education is both a public aspiration and a widely shared civic value."Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners "Bringing more attention to the role that arts and music play in education makes a strong connection to creativity and innovation, skills needed in our economy and talents valued by parents and teachers....We need to create a sense of personal stake in school improvement. This is one of the building blocks of civic engagement..." (Jonathan Alter, Newsweek) To see a video of the forum and to find out more information, please visit http://www.publiceducation.org/events_20070326_Forum.asp 7) Newspaper Series Examines Charter Schools in Florida: The Orlando Sentinel recently ran a four part series on charter schools in Florida entitled "Charter Schools: Missing the Grade". The series examined the history, academic performance, accountability provisions, financial troubles, and the charter school industry, which, according to Florida state Senator Don Gaetz, "..has lobbyists...they walk around in thousand-dollar suits". Approximately 43 percent of all charter schools in Florida do not receive grades for performance, unlike traditional public schools, because they teach potential dropouts, children with disabilities, inmates at juvenile-justice facilities, or have fewer than 30 students per grade level. But advocates for charter schools see no problem with the lack of accountability. According to Phil Handy, a former member of the Florida State Board of Education, "Simply being a choice is enough." To read the entire series visit http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-special-charterschools,0,7628942.htmlpage. 8) National Campaign To Support the Whole Child: The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) launched a new public engagement campaign in March 2007 to engage parents, educators, policymakers, and communities in efforts to support education systems that address the education of the whole child and a school environment in which all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. "Successful implementation of these policies results in successful learners who are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically active, artistically engaged, prepared for economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond formal schooling." According to the ASCD, "We call upon policymaking bodies from local school boards through the United States Congress to embrace and implement these goals to ensure we, as a society, meet our new compact with today's students and tomorrow's leaders." For more information, contact http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.2faf6f04644fa36557e54210e3108a0c/;jsessionid=GZ2bLuqmgyPWz0X9RWUuwV0aiPyp58MAh0GdPo6rIhRjveGwGHlz!-1281384286 9) State Coalition Forms to Fight Loss of Tax Revenue: An Akron Beacon Journal article published on March 25, 2007, "Shouldering the Burden for Schools" by Katie Byard, examines the shift in the local tax burden from businesses to homeowners and farmers. According to the article, residential and agricultural property owners now contribute 59.5 percent or $5.5 billion of local revenue for schools, which is an increase from 47.3 percent in 1991. The increase is a result of the loss of the industrial base in Ohio, but also due to the decreases and phaseouts of taxes paid by businesses, such as taxes paid on tangible personal property on business machinery, inventories, and utilities. Some of the reductions imposed by law are being offset by the new Commercial Activity Tax, but reimbursement is being phased out beginning in 2011, and is scheduled to end in 2017. (See http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/16970323.htm) Some local government advocates and education organizations are forming a new coalition to advocate for a permanent solution to the elimination of taxes that supported key services in the state. The new coalition is called the Coalition of Local Governments and Services, and will support efforts to bring attention to $1.6 billion loss to local programs and services as a result of the phase out of certain local taxes. These taxes support schools, libraries, parks, police and fire protection, and health services. For a list of lost taxes visit http://www.opraonline.org/pdf/tpptpartialsummaryoflossesimpactinglocalservicesstats.pdf For information about the new coalition please visit http://www.opraonline.org/pdf/tppt032707.pdf 10) Reinventing Education Toolkit Available: IBM in partnership with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals has developed a free online toolkit to provide access to proven-effective information to support school improvement. The toolkit provides diagnostic tools and interactive support. For more information visit http://www.reinventingeducation.org 11) How Can Advocacy Efforts Be Measured?: The Spring 2007 issue of Harvard Family Research Project's "The Evaluation Exchange" provides information about how the success of advocacy efforts can be measured and evaluated. According to the introduction by Heather Weiss, "Advocacy has long been one of these "hard to-measure" activities. Until very recently, few resources existed to guide evaluation in this area. In just the last year, however, advocacy evaluation has become a burgeoning field. As this issue makes clear, enterprising evaluators, nonprofits, and funders are tackling advocacy's hard-to-measure distinction and are sharing their ideas and approaches." For information about this newsletter, please visit http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval/issue34/ 12) Bills Introduced the Week of April 2, 2007: HB142 (Batchelder) School Threat - Requires the Highway Patrol to provide emergency assistance to schools confronted with a bomb threat. HB143 (Wagner) Health Care - Eliminates certain requirements and prohibitions applying to school district boards of education, including the centralized procurement of employee health benefits contingently mandated by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th General Assembly. SB 139 (Mumper) Prevailing Wage - Permits state institutions of higher education to use either single or multiple prime bidding for public improvement projects; exempts from the Prevailing Wage Law projects constructed by state institutions of higher education and projects constructed by private, non-profit organizations that receive public moneys to construct those projects; and prohibits the Ohio School Facilities Commission from approving school district projects that specify the payment of prevailing wages. 13) Funding Opportunity: The Mattel Children's Foundation Grants program provides awards to organizations that serve children ages zero to 12 years. To qualify, organizations or programs must show creative and/or innovative methods to address locally defined needs directly impacting children. The maximum award is $20,000. 501(c)3 organizations that benefit children are eligible to apply. The application deadline is June 15, 2007. For more information please visit http://www.mattel.com/about_us/philanthropy/ci_mcf_philanthropy_grantmaking.asp |
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Ohio Fair Schools
Campaign, 94 Columbus Road
Athens, Ohio 45701
Tel. (740)592-2866 Fax (740)593-5451
Athens, Ohio 45701
Tel. (740)592-2866 Fax (740)593-5451