Ohio needs to close the gap between expectations and school funding
Andrew Benson, Executive Director of Ohio Education Matters, outlines what he hopes to see in Governor Kasich's school funding model, set to be released on February 4, in KnowledgeWorks Foundation's World of Learning Blog.
"Ohio school districts seem to live in two worlds," he writes. "There is one world where ever higher standards and accountability from the state and federal governments – and employers and colleges – are demanding that all graduates be ready for college and careers. There is another world where the state calculates an amount of state aid to local school districts that, with local resources available, pays for educating children from kindergarten through 12th grade."
Read the full blog post
KnowledgeWorks and Ohio Education Matters Host Statewide Conference on Ohio Cradle to Career Initiatives
A panel discussion on October 4 in Columbus addressed ways Ohio P-16s are improving academic achievement amid budget challenges. Statewide education leaders and stakeholders gathered to examine how communities in Ohio can work together to improve student achievement from cradle to career. To follow the event on Twitter, use hashtag #OhioC2C. Check back soon to see video of the event.
Download the agenda for the Cradle to Career discussion
Download Ohio's Plan to Develop Local P-16 Councils
Read the full press release for this event
Innovative Cleveland School hosts Ohio Digital Task Force
The Ohio Digital Learning Task Force held its latest meeting Monday, December 12, at New Tech @ East Tech High in Cleveland.
The group toured the innovative school to learn how digital learning influences instruction as teachers successfully incorporate a digital platform in the classroom. The tour also showcased the evolving role of both the teacher and the student in a school with a 1:1 computer ratio.
Read more about the event and the strengths showcased by New Tech here.
See video of the event.
Strive Partnership highlighted in national think tank report
Education Sector, an independent think tank, has released an in-depth report about the potential of community accountability and shared responsibility for long-range student outcomes. "Striving for Student Success: A Model of Shared Accountability" objectively examines the Strive Partnership of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky and the accomplishments of its over 300 civic groups, businesses, non-profits, colleges, public agencies and philanthropic organizations.
Download the report
The value of Community Learning Centers recognized by independent organization
Cincinnati Public Schools' use of Community Learning Centers are valuable, according a study conducted by Innovations in Community Research, an independent resource that evaluates the work of educational and nonprofit organizations. The Ohio Smart Schools report "Towards a New Model of Educational Governance for Ohio," released in the spring of 2011, discussed both the potential and best practices of Community Learning Centers throughout Ohio
Read the story about the study on Cincinnati.com
Download a PDF of ICR's report, "Community Learning Centers: year in Review 2010-2011"
Download the Ohio Smart Schools report "Towards a New Model of Educational Governance for Ohio"
Ohio Education Matters presented More for Their Money: Learning from Ohio School Districts that do More for Less on November 9, 2011 in Columbus. Some of Ohio’s best-in-class districts shared their experiences and practices of doing more for less in administration, transportation, food service and maintenance and operations.
View the event's keynote on Vimeo.
Ohio Education Matters releases policy analysis of National Report Card on digital learning
On the heels of the inaugural meeting of Ohio's Digital Learning Task Force, which is charged with expanding innovative education policy in state, KnowledgeWorks subsidiary Ohio Education Matters Ohio has released an analysis of Ohio’s performance on the first ever national report on digital learning.
The policy report, titled “Ohio’s Road to High Quality Digital Learning,” was released the day after the National Report Card on Digital Learning was announced by Digital Learning Now at the National Summit on Education reform in San Francisco. The National Report Card gave the state high marks for its work while challenging it to improve in other areas.
The report card grades each state based on its alignment with the 10 Elements of High Quality Digital Learning developed last fall, including access, personalized learning and quality choices.
The Digital Learning Now website highlighted Ohio’s achievement: "Ohio is leading the nation in transforming education for the digital age. This year, the legislation created a task force to identify ways to expand digital learning in the state. Watch for a bold reform agenda next legislative session."
Download "Ohio's Road to High-Quality Digital Learning"
Download Ohio's full report card
Download full press release
US Department of Education cites the Ohio Smart School Initiative, Ohio Education Matters and Strive as resources
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation has compiled information to help schools, school districts, and states increase their educational productivity while contending with current budgetary challenges. Studies conducted by Ohio Education Matters for the Ohio Smart Schools Initiative are cited as resources for increasing productivity under process improvements and pay and manage for results.
Strive is cited under New and Alternative Sources of Student Support and Funding.
Ohio Smart Schools reports and analysis:
Benchmarking Ohio’s School Districts identifies the districts that are getting more for their money in non-instructional spending than their peers. Schools and districts need guidance, flexibility, support and encouragement to make the right choices to reduce education spending and also keep improving student achievement.
Read the report
Our parent organization, KnowledgeWorks, is a national leader in developing and implementing innovative and effective approaches to high school education. KnowledgeWorks primarily focuses on redesigning urban high schools, developing STEM and Early College high schools, and supporting student-centered approaches to delivering real learning and results in our schools. KnowledgeWorks is the main funder of the Ohio Smart Schools initiative.