education
Bus driver shortage stresses rural school districts
By Aallyah Wright, Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts Weeks into the school year, rural school districts remain especially hard hit by the national school bus driver shortage that gained widespread attention late this summer. Bus routes have been shortened or extended, drivers are working longer hours, and in some cases administrators, mechanics […]
GOP lawmakers push back against federal probe into threats against school board members
WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans on Thursday objected to a move by the Justice Department to investigate violent threats made against local school board members and teachers, arguing that the federal agency is “policing the speech of citizens and concerned parents.” “Violence and true threats of violence should have no place in our civic discourse, but […]
‘Backpack Bill’ sponsors seek way forward under new funding formula
The sponsors of a bill that would promote the use of private school vouchers and “school choice” came together on Wednesday with a religious lobby group to bring the bill back up. House Bill 290 was originally introduced in May as a “legislative intent” bill aiming to allow students to have the funding they need […]
ECOT loses latest court challenge, must repay state
The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow has lost yet another court challenge, with the Ohio Supreme Court concluding they must repay the more than $60 million the state is owed from the now-defunct private online charter school. The state’s highest court upheld a decision by the Ohio State Board of Education that said ECOT had falsified […]
Race education bills get big turnout in legislature, most urging opposition
Both bills that would change the way racial issues are taught in schools appeared in an Ohio House committee this week, and the overwhelming majority of citizen speakers wanted to see the proposed legislation go away. House bills 322 and 327 were up for committee consideration on Wednesday, and Republicans amended HB 322 to specifically […]
Dueling protests take on race theory, state school board members and legislators join in
The Ohio Board of Education met for its September meeting on Tuesday, but outside the building, protesters on both sides of the heated debate over race in education stood in the rain saying their piece. Board members didn’t just attend the meeting inside, however. Dr. Jenny Kilgore took time before the meeting to stand with […]
A boy with an autoimmune disease was ready to learn in person. Then his state banned mask mandates
By Annie Waldman and Bianca Fortis, ProPublica This story was originally published by ProPublica. When the coronavirus first swept across Florida last year, Angela Gambrel did everything she could to lock down her home in Sumter County, northeast of Tampa. Her 10-year-old grandson Jayden has a rare brain disease that disrupts his immune system and […]
Interim state superintendent named yet again
A new interim state superintendent will hold down the fort at the Ohio Department of Education, following the departure of the previous interim superintendent. Dr. Stephanie K. Siddens, currently the senior executive for the state’s Center for Student Supports, will take over in September, after current superintendent Paolo DeMaria officially retires. The Ohio State Board […]
Biden faces down GOP governors on school mask bans
WASHINGTON — With eight states so far prohibiting schools from levying mask requirements, President Joe Biden is pledging that his administration will use all of its oversight and legal authority to stick up for local officials trying to keep their schools safe. What remains to be seen is how far the federal government can or will […]
Redistricting: Education funding hangs in balance with unbalanced districts
The redrawing of legislative maps has an impact on where you go to vote and who to call at the Ohio Statehouse, but it also determines the support students get when they go to school, and what teachers can and can’t do in their classrooms. So say members of teachers unions and education advocates across […]
Second bill seeking to ban student mask requirements to enter Ohio House
An Ohio GOP state rep is making another push to ban mask mandates for students in schools, as child COVID-19 cases rise. State Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, is seeking cosponsors on a bill “prohibiting schools in Ohio from mandating that students wear masks.” “With our children return to the classroom shortly, based off of the […]
Public ed coalition plans lawsuit to try to kill EdChoice vouchers
The education coalition behind the case that successfully argued Ohio’s public school system was unconstitutional says they’ll head back to the courts to eliminate the EdChoice private school voucher system. Bill Phillis, executive director for the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding, said the approval of the fair school funding plan, even […]