A pathway to fix Ohio's education system: A note
to teachers, administrators, community members and parents.
The
divisiveness in our nation can be dizzying.
It seems that, even in casual conversation, extreme opinions stop the
natural progression of problem solving and improving the status quo. One of the domestic problems, that weighs
heavy on my heart, is our education system in Ohio. If you are in the education field, or have a
family member “in the trenches”, you are painfully aware of the broken
assessment/evaluation system, the distressing air tests and the burdensome
resident educator program. If you are a
parent or a community member, you are intensely aware of the shroud of
confusion associated with common core standards and mandates (or ESSA). These are problems that I hear our community
member’s express extensive frustration over, but it seems that frustration
often turns into empathy and exhaustion when faced with the size and scope of
the problem.
I
believe every problem has a solution, even this one. What if there is a plan that is bi-partisan and restores local control to our own local board of
education? I know it sounds too good to
be true, but I deeply believe that Representative Andy Thompson (Ohio’s 95th
district) has penned a bill that will rectify many of the issues that are
inhibiting what is best for Ohio’s kids.
Ohio HB 176, “Address school assessments and curricula and
teacher evaluations”, accomplishes many of the solutions I have heard
teachers offer in morning meeting after morning meeting. In a two-word
nutshell, it is “local control”. HB 176
removes many of the unnecessary standardized tests, with the premise that the
local districts are to determine mastery and competency. It establishes recommended, not mandated,
standards; it removes assessments from the evaluation process for teachers and
administrators and it effectively ends the resident educator program. This bill also promotes equitable reporting
for charter schools and public schools and makes great strides to protect
student’s data (a hot commodity that should have NEVER been a commodity in the
first place).
What
happens next? I encourage everyone to read over the analysis of the bill. It digests the bill into relatively concise
main ideas, and really helps familiarize yourself with what the bill
contains. Then, truthfully, the single
best thing you can do is to call your local State Representative and express
your support for the bill. It does not
matter how you identify politically, these measures will restore Ohio’s
education system and profession.
Finally, I ask you to please spread the word to your friends and
family. If all of us work together, we
can create a better education system for Ohio’s children.
Sincerely,
Nicki
My thoughts on HB 176 and teacher evaluations:
http://agvocatefarmer.blogspot.com/2017/04/teacher-evaluations-what-do-they-look.html
My thoughts on why Massachusetts standards are a good example curriculum:
http://agvocatefarmer.blogspot.com/2017/04/ohio-hb176-establishes-massachusetts.html
My thoughts on HB 176 and teacher evaluations:
http://agvocatefarmer.blogspot.com/2017/04/teacher-evaluations-what-do-they-look.html
My thoughts on why Massachusetts standards are a good example curriculum:
http://agvocatefarmer.blogspot.com/2017/04/ohio-hb176-establishes-massachusetts.html
Link
to the analysis of HB 176:
How
to identify and contact your state representative:
Link to the full HB
176
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