Ohio Public School Budgets Face Tough Times

With the continuing economic woes facing Ohio, state elected officials are sending signals that schools should be preparing for leaner budgets:

• “Schools brace for funding cuts: Even scenario of 10% drop in state aid from next budget may be too optimistic“
• “Stretching Ohio’s education dollars is a high priority now“
• “GOP warns schools: Expect deep cuts in aid“
• “GOP governors: Deep budget cuts are coming“

As a result, districts are not only looking at their spending but also re-evaluating their plans for levies:

• “Big question hangs over Hilliard levy“

Proposed changes by the incoming governor raise additional concerns about funding:

• “State panel’s school-funding plan might not matter“

Even Ohio’s $400 million federal Race to the Top funding may be in jeopardy:

• “Will Ohio forfeit schools’ $400 million prize? State must follow ‘Top’ plan; Kasich backs parts of it“
• “Is ‘Race to the Top’ aid at risk?“
• “Senator rips governor over education grant: Race to the Top fears needless“

Ohio Clears Hurdle in “Race to the Top” Funding

Ohio’s application for Round 2 Race to the Top funding has landed the state a finalist spot in the competition. Coverage in the media includes:

• Cincinnati Enquirer: “Ohio, Ky. among finalists for education funds“
• Cleveland Plain Dealer: “Ohio in the running for $400 million in Race to the Top competition“
• Columbus Dispatch: “Ohio again a finalist for federal ‘Race to the Top’ funds“
• Dayton Daily News: “Ohio a finalist in race for share of $3B in federal school funds“

Upcoming milestones:

• States adopting Common Core standards by 8/2 receive extra points in the Race to the Top competition.

• The state will make a presentation to the US Department of Education August 10. The presentation team will consist of
  • Governor Ted Strickland
  • State Superintendent Deborah Delisle
  • Assistant State Superintendent Marilyn Troyer
  • Columbus City Schools Superintendent Gene Harris
  • Georgetown Exempted Village School District Superintendent Melissa Cropper

Progress on Ohio’s Round 2 Race to the Top Application

After Ohio failed to secure a share from the first round of the federal government’s Race to the Top funding, there was no shortage of advice on how the state could approve its application. As the June 1 deadline approaches, reports on the preparation of the proposal are appearing in the news:

• Cleveland Plain Dealer: “To win Race to the Top education funds, Ohioans have to run as a team“
• Columbus Dispatch: “More school districts join Race to the Top effort” “Teachers unions can help Ohio do better in Race to the Top“
• Dayton Daily News: “Unions missing chance to shape teacher evaluation“
• Marion Star: “Local schools join Race to the Top for federal dollars“
• Mason Pulse-Journal: “Lakota supports Ohio’s bid for Race to the Top funds“
• New Albany This Week: “District will not take part in Race to the Top“
• Salem News: “Why can’t schools embrace change?“
• Youngstown Vindicator: “22 Valley schools enter Race to the Top“
• Wall Street Journal: “35 states, DC vie for education funding“

In addition, organizations have produced reports that analyze Ohio chances in RttP Round 2.

• Independent Guide to Ohio’s $400 M Race to the Top Application. (Ohio Grantmakers Forum and KidsOhio.org)
• Moving from Vision to Reality: Ohio’s Second Round of the Race to the Top (Ohio Education Matters/KnowledgeWorks)

Update: Ohio’s Round 2 RttT application in available in PDF format on the Ohio Department of Education website at http://www.rttt.education.ohio.gov

Phase 2 of Race to the Top: Advice to Ohio

Though Ohio was close to winning federal “Race to the Top” funding in Phase 1, we came up short in the end. You can watch the state’s presentation and read the reviewers’ comments to learn more about the Phase 1 application.

The state is moving ahead with its preparations for the Race to the Top Phase 2 competition. Today, the Ohio Department of Education released the new Memorandum of Understanding Information for districts that want to sign on with the state’s Phase 2 RttT application as well as announcing its distribution plan for the funds.

As Ohio prepares its proposal for a share of Phase 2 RttT money (due June 1), there is no shortage of opinion about how the state can improve its chances:

Catalyst Ohio

• “Ohio Loses First Leg of ‘Race to the Top’”

National Journal

• “Race to the Top and Meaningful Reform”

The New Teacher Project

• “The Real Race Begins: Lessons from the First Round of Race to the Top”

Ohio Federation of Teachers

• “OFT Disappointed in Race to the Top Announcement”

Thomas Fordham Institute

• “Race to the Top: How Ohio Can Go From a B- to an A”
• “Ohio’s ‘Race to the Top’ Application Rewrite Should Improve ‘Great Teachers & Leaders’ Section”
• “Ohio’s Path to ‘Race to the Top’ Success”
• “Three Things Ohio Needs to do to Win Money for Schools”

Washington Post

• “Race to the Top’s First Round Sends Out Mixed Messages on School Reform”

Race to the Top: Ohio’s Round 1 Presentation

The US Department of Education has made video of Ohio’s Round 1 “Race to the Top” presentation available online on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrtahYITfbw

Federal Funding for Ohio Schools Announced

News on US Department of Education funding and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding for Ohio schools:

Announced today: “Ohio to Receive More Than $132 Million to Turn Around Its Persistently Lowest Achieving Schools” (http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/03/03262010a.html)

To be announced Monday at 1pm: Race to the Top winners (Ohio is in the running) (http://www2.ed.gov/news/events/advisory.html#032610a)