We’ve been talking a lot about how education will factor into this year’s election here in Ohio, but it’s also an important issue nationwide. EdWeek breaks down races across the country where education may be a factor. With national issues like the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and more talk surrounding federal preschool funding, party control of the U.S. Senate could have some pretty big education implications, EdWeek says.
Education is front and center in dozens of federal, state, and local contests in this pivotal midterm election year, with issues such as K-12 funding, teacher collective bargaining rights, and the growing role of the charter sector roiling the campaign landscape.
Thanks to an increasing amount of college degree recipients within the region, a handful of Akron-area colleges are up to split a $1 million prize. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that under the nationwide “Talent Dividend” competition, the metro area that saw the biggest increase in degree recipients from 2009-13 will win the award. The University of Akron, Kent State, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Hiram College, and a Stark State satellite campus all comprise the Northeast Ohio region. Currently, the group is one of six finalists. If they win, the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education—a consortium representing the schools—would split the money, the Beacon says.
The number of college degrees handed out in Summit and Portage counties soared over the last four years, making the Akron region a national finalist for a $1 million prize.
Kids at outdoor play at Bingham Early Learning Center in Cleveland.
In his last two State of the Union speeches President Obama called on Congress to fund high quality pre-school for every 4 year-old. Congress has mostly ignored his request but two administration officials went looking for a city that does offer good pre-school classes. They came to Cleveland.
As children played, read books, or assembled puzzles at a pre-school in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, HUD secretary Julian Castro praised the way many area organizations are working together to provide educational pre-school.
The Obama administration has said the ratings system will incorporate some broad issues, including access, affordability, and outcomes.
But other than potentially analyzing metrics like graduation rates and student loan debt, President Obama and the U.S. Department of Education still haven’t hammered out what the plan will look like.
Tax issues are pretty important to Ohio’s schools.
While K-12 districts do receive money from both federal and state governments, many rely heavily on local funds to support a big chunk of their operating budgets.
While there are a handful of income tax requests this year, the majority comes from taxing the property of district residents. More than two-thirds of statewide property tax levies go to fund schools, according to the state.
Districts can ask voters to finance a variety of costs, including current expenses, facility improvements, and emergency requirements.
Collectively this fall, more than 145 school districts across the state will ask voters to approve 163 tax issues.
Toledo Public Schools is turning to test scores to support the firing of a teacher—and as the Toledo Blade reports, the move may be the first of its kind. Second grade teacher Beth Harpster has been with the district for more than 20 years. She’s now facing charges of “gross inefficiencies in the classroom.” According to the Blade, the district is supporting its move to dismiss Harpster by using internal data that claims her students aren’t making as much progress as other second graders.
In what may be a first, Toledo Public Schools is leaning heavily on student test data in its efforts to terminate a veteran teacher. The Toledo Board of Education is expected to be presented this week with a recommendation by administrators to fire Beth Harpster, a second-grade teacher at Longfellow Elementary who has taught at TPS for more than two decades.
October being National Bullying Prevention Month, schools everywhere are chiming in on how students can avoid getting picked on. But some efforts can make things worse.
Some schools have tried “peer mediation” where you bring the victim and the bully together in the same room. Child Psychologist Melissa Martin discourages that one.
“You want them to make amends and make friends, and go on with life,” says Martin. “And what usually has happened is the bully goes more covert, and makes sure that they do the bullying outside of the range of the teachers, staff, or any adults.”
By most measurable accounts, things weren’t going so well at New Hampshire’s Pittsfield Middle High School. Test scores were low, and the level of teacher turnover was high. But since the school adopted “student centered learning,” that’s not quite the case anymore, The Atlantic reports the definition of the concept is constantly evolving, but most programs tend to have teachers work as coaches, along with implementing student-centered activities like peer discussions and group work.
“There used to be a lot more of teachers talking at you—it didn’t matter if you were ready to move on. When the teacher was done with the topic that was it,” student Noah Manteau told The Atlantic. “This is so much better.”
In an 11th-grade English class at Pittsfield Middle High School in rural New Hampshire, Jenny Wellington’s students were gathered in a circle debating Henry David Thoreau’s positions on personal responsibility. “Do you think Thoreau really was about ‘every man for himself?’” asked one 16-year-old boy.
A strike may be on the horizon for Youngstown State University. Yesterday, a union representing several hundred faculty members said they have “no confidence” in the school’s board of trustees and authorized a strike, according to the Youngstown Vindicator. The union members have been without a contract since the middle of August. One main issue? Healthcare, the Vindicator reports.
Published: 10/23/14 @ 12:10 By Denise Dick denise_dick@vindy.com YOUNGSTOWN The union representing about 400 Youngstown State University faculty members voted to authorize a strike and approved a resolution of “no confidence” in the board of trustees and the administration. YSU-Ohio Education Association has been working without a contract since Aug.
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