October 6 – October 13, 2011

Ohio

Good step
The Columbus Dispatch
October 11, 2011
This editorial from The Columbus Dispatch says the recent ratings received by many Ohio teachers are a step toward understanding which teachers are helping students succeed. It also describes the ratings as the groundwork for measuring teacher effectiveness in evaluations. As a result, the Dispatch says, Ohio will eventually see better prospects for its students and a boost to the teaching profession.

All roads must lead to college: editorial
The Plain Dealer
October 8, 2011
This Plain Dealer editorial states that only 8 percent of Cleveland adults have a four-year college degree. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson recently announced the Higher Education Compact of Greater Cleveland aimed at increasing the number of Cleveland public school students who enroll and complete college. Fifteen colleges have signed on to the initiative. The Plain Dealer calls this an “exciting grass-roots idea that could work if all parties keep their vow and work together.”

Columbus schools import Singapore method to improve math education
The Columbus Dispatch
October 11, 2011
A new math curriculum that draws from teaching techniques in Singapore is now in use within the Columbus school district. In the Singapore method, students are taken through concrete, pictorial and abstract phases. It is also important to understand why an answer is found in addition to how. Singapore often scores among the top countries on international math exams.

Raising graduation rate for Cleveland Hispanics is priority for school district, community groups (videos)
The Plain Dealer
October 10, 2011
Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon referred to the district’s low graduation rate for Hispanic students as a “crisis in our community.” In 2010, only 30 percent of Cleveland’s Hispanic students graduated. This article spells out steps that Gordon plans to take to increase the graduation rate for Hispanic students in Cleveland.

Children’s Defense Fund founder urges support for Freedom Schools in Cleveland
The Plain Dealer
October 7, 2011
The founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman, recently spoke to a crowd in Cleveland about supporting Freedom Schools. Research shows that children who participate in the six-week summer camp see an improvement in reading scores. Edelman also emphasized that the program helps form children into leaders within their community.

Study: Test scores start lagging in high school
The Cincinnati Enquirer
October 10, 2011
A Center on Education Policy national study, released last week, found that student growth on standardized tests begins to delay in high school.  The Cincinnati Enquirer performed a review and also found that within Cincinnati Public Schools, high school progress appears to be lagging.

Catholic schools have ‘enrollment crisis’
The Cincinnati Enquirer
October 8, 2011
A recent report by the Archdioceses of Cincinnati will be used as a tool in the development of a strategic plan for Catholic schools. The report analyzes regions as opposed to individual schools and it describes the “enrollment crisis.”

National

Corbett rolls out his school-voucher plan
The Philadelphia Inquirer
October 12, 2011
Pennsylvania Governor Corbett announced a proposal that would make school vouchers available for low-income students who attend the state’s failing public schools. He also proposed lifting the cap on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which is currently capped at $75 million.