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Home > Blogs > Springfield Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2009 > February > 05 > Entry
What do you think of Strickland’s education reform proposals?
Gov. Ted Strickland’s biennial budget was released Monday and with it came a 43-page report on his education reform plans.
I’m in Columbus today for an “in-depth briefing” on those proposals so look for lots of information on all of this to be coming soon. I haven’t touched on it much so far but I’ll be writing about the funding portion for this coming Sunday and then every Sunday after than (for the next month or so) we’ll look at a different big change the governor has suggested.
Here’s a link to the report (It’s the Special Analysis on Education Initiatives). The big things we’ve heard a lot about so far are:
• All-day kindergarten • Doing away with the OGT and implementing the ACT and three other (so far unnamed) measures as Ohio’s exit exams • Revamping teacher training and development, including implementing a four-year residency program • Linking funding to teacher quality to direct funds “where they are needed most” • tuition freezes for higher education • and many, many more
What do you think of the changes Strickland is suggesting? Pick your favorite or talk about the overall reform!
I’ll be back with more information soon but if you have a specific question leave it in the comments so I can get an answer for you!
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Ohio
Comments
By john
February 5, 2009 7:24 AM | Link to this
Governor Strickland should consider a move that Governor Rendell of PA is proposing - to consolidate the number of school districts. See the article below: “Pa.’s 501 school districts could be cut to 100” - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09036/947064-454.stm If applied in Ohio it sure would save some significant tax dollars and help reduce education overhead costs.By Leonard
February 5, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this
The Governor’s proposal does not solve the funding problem and remains unconstitutional. Consolidation is not the answer because it will add beaurocracy and the dollar savings will be absorbed by top level personnel. I’ve offered a possible solution to the problem, however, our legislators did not want to listen to it because it wasn’t an “easy and quick fix”. The problem did not happen overnight and it will not be resolved overnight. There is no “quick fix”. After 16 years on a board of education, I can tell you the governor’s proposal is a little better, but still more of what we already have. Believe me when I say there is a better solution, only it will take effort, time, patience and commitment to resolve the issue.By Unconstitutional
February 5, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
I agree with leonard. However as a state employee who is getting my pay cut atleast 5% to help fund the governor’s proposal and my school is not getting any of the money. I have a serious problem with this proposal. I’m still paying property taxes to support the levy and now even more of my money is being taken from me but my school district is not reaping any of the benefits.By flipper
February 5, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
I don’t think he knows anything about education since he was never involved in the process at any level. But like a true democrat his solution is to take from districts that have and give to districts that have not.By cher
February 5, 2009 12:50 PM | Link to this
I feel that adding 20 days to the school year and going to all-day kindergarden are just steps toward the year round school idea. Using ACT or others post high school standardized tests is one the most insane ideas I have heard since it has already been proven that these tests, utilized as college entrance exams have no relavance to one’s success in college AND not everyone is going to go to college. Maybe standardized cirriculums might be an idea since teachers are only teaching to the tests because testng result is linked to district quality reports cards.By citizen
February 5, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
By the time Gov. Strickland and Pres. Obama are done raping our pockets we won’t have anything left. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude…I place economy among the first and most important of republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared. —President Thomas JeffersonBy DonnelsvilleGuy
February 13, 2009 9:15 AM | Link to this
Teachers, who already are paid more than the taxpayers who support them on aveage, but who only work 185 days a year and not over 250 days like everyone else, should not be given a raise to cover the extra days. We’re the only “first world” country now to offer so few days of education, let alone such a short school day with so many interruptions to the learning process. Public education is a real mess but this proposal, facing the opposition of the NEA, has a snowball’s chance in hell of going anywhere. As always it is going to be “teachers first - kids second”. Sad.By private
February 16, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
I would like for Donnelsville Guy to work an extra 20 days this year without pay. Probably not going to happen. BTW, teachers are paid for 185 days, not a year. Their pay is divided up over the course of 12 months. So, in addition to the previous request of Donnelsville Guy, I would also like him to work 2009 and wait until 2010 to receive some of that pay. Know what you are talking about before you open your mouth.