Education
Pandemic could have major impact on census data
There was a Ferris wheel destined for Athens, Ohio. When Mayor Steve Patterson was thinking of ideas to help boost participation in the 2020 census, he and other officials came up with one giant reward for college students’ participation. “Everyone that brought proof that they’d filled out the census would get a free ride, and […]
Ohio Supreme Court to review ECOT appeal
The Ohio Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to take up the case of a former online charter school that is fighting the Ohio State Board of Education over funding standards. The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) filed an appeal in February of this year, arguing for the state high court to hear the case by saying […]
Controlling Board approves nearly $250M in funding for Ohio ventilators, summer lunches, other efforts
The state of Ohio’s Controlling Board approved the distribution of millions of dollars in federal funding Monday to purchase medical masks and help schools with summer lunches, among other things. In its Monday meeting, the board, made up of members of the Office of Budget and Management and legislators from the House and Senate, cleared […]
Ohio schools overcoming challenges, making the best of coronavirus closures
Distance learning and full-time online education have become the new norm for Ohio’s schools as students and teachers adhere to state stay-at-home orders and school closures. The challenges the schools are as diverse as the creativity has been to keep students engaged, and parents informed. “Our teachers probably are working as hard if not harder […]
COVID-19 in Appalachia: Communities coming together while staying apart
Note: This is the final story in a multi-part series detailing the effects of COVID-19 on Appalachian Ohio and how local residents, businesses and health professionals are responding to best serve their region. You can read earlier parts here: on business; on health and testing; and on telemedicine. Scott Hagan makes his living on the […]
EdChoice frozen in Ohio omnibus coronavirus bill
The fight over private school vouchers is yet again on hold, this time to clear the way for the state’s coronavirus response. As part of the omnibus bill approved by the Senate on Wednesday morning and the House that afternoon, the expansion of the EdChoice scholarship program will be frozen while the coronavirus causes the […]
Internet providers commit to keep Ohioans connected during self-isolation, school closures
The closure of schools has caused disruption to students’ schooling and every day routine, so some internet providers are committing to help. Several high-speed internet providers in the start have joined with the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” Pledge. With the commitment, internet service providers say they “will not terminate service to any residential […]
EdChoice among legislation up in the air as Statehouse work paused
The April 1 deadline looms for the Ohio legislature to decide on a plan for the state’s private school voucher program. The telework policies and lack of personnel in the Statehouse may throw a wrench in that timeline. The EdChoice deadline was moved back once before so that lawmakers could debate the best plan of […]
Ballot issues on hold amid election day confusion
As the pause in the election continues, cities and school districts are left hanging on whether the funding they have asked for from voters will be coming. More than half of the Ohio counties have municipal or school issues on the ballot. In Franklin County, that includes a renovation and improvement bond issue from Columbus […]
Census vital to rural infrastructure, services, mayors say
From a McDonald’s parking lot to a Ferris Wheel on West Union Street in Athens, mayors across the state are pushing every method of getting a full count in the 2020 Census. Southeast Ohio was particularly represented as the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress came together at the Statehouse with Ohio Development Services Agency Director Lydia […]
U.S. Senate votes to ax DeVos student loan policy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted on Wednesday to overturn a controversial regulation from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that her critics say hurts defrauded student loan borrowers. Senate Democrats forced the vote under the Congressional Review Act, a law that allows Congress to overturn federal rules within 60 days after they’re finalized. The U.S. House […]
With Ohio schools closing, foodbanks association calls for help to address hunger
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, he has ordered that all kindergarten through 12th grade schools close for several weeks. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is calling for federal, state, and public help for low-income families with children who will miss school lunches and parents who will lose […]