By David MillerLOVELAND, OHIO – Governor Ted Strickland chose to visit the Loveland Middle and Intermediate schools last Wednesday to talk about the State budget and school reform. He found Loveland a very friendly place. Despite the short notice of less than 24-hours, about fifty people were in attendance. Many superintendents, treasures, and principals from surrounding school districts, as well as Loveland school administrators and teachers attended the 10 AM event. Parents, with children in toe, and other community residents also attended. Strickland took questions from the audience, none were overtly critical of the plan, but were questions asking for clarification.
Loveland School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Boys introduced Strickland. He said it was a historic occasion. “We could not be more pleased and delighted that our Governor chose to come to the Loveland City Schools to talk about reforming education in Ohio.” Boys said it was exciting that the Governor's plan was not only about money, but about modernizing the classroom, the teaching strategy, and, “revising our assessments, so we are not just relying on the Ohio Achievement Tests.” He said the new plan will have “authentic assessments.”
Boys also said during the introduction, “We would all be pretty ignorant if we thought any particular solution to funding problems was perfect, and we all know that this plan isn't perfect. But, I will tell you this, it lays a strong framework for the future of Ohio's children.”
“I applaud this Governor. I congratulate him and his ability to have a vision, and his work with the legislature to bring about a solution to funding schools - for the boys and girls of Ohio.”
The softly spoken Governor took the podium and speaking from prepared notes said, “I firmly believe that public education has created within our country, perhaps the freest, opportunity oriented society on earth.”
He said that Ohio and local school districts have struggled for “some number of years” with a system that the Supreme Court has on numerous occasions indicated is inconsistent with the Ohio Constitution. Strickland described Ohio as very diverse with areas of highly concentrated wealth and areas that are very poor. “Coming up with a way to finance public education is a
complex and difficult problem.” He said he held 17 public forums that he attended in “every region of the State, and people came to these forums by the hundreds.”
“I heard lots of ideas, and a lot of conflicting ideas. Not everyone agreed or agrees on the approach that should be taken. And, that is to be expected in a State as big and as diverse as Ohio.” The Governor said that his administration has not only discussed the funding problem, but, “We have also discussed ways to strengthen the educational experience of our students.”
Strickland said, “We are facing, and enduring, a very serious worldwide economic recession and it is particularly severe here in Ohio.” He said that some people have asked him why he would attempt school reform under these economic circumstances and that he responded by saying, “You can always find an excuse not to do something, especially when it comes to this particular issue.” He said the fact that Ohio is struggling economically, “May be the single strongest reason why we should move forward with education reform. Because I believe that if we are going to have a prosperous state, it's only going to happen if we adequately educate our young people at every level, beginning at the earliest years. And, continuing certainly through the college years and beyond, as we discuss work force development.”
Strickland admitted that his education budget is based on what critics call, "one time” federal stimulus money. He said that he and four other governors fought for education money being part of the federal stimulus dollars coming to the states. “Yes our budget relies on one-time money, but when you take the federal and state money combined, except for five districts, there will be an average 5% increase in funding going to every school district in the State over the next two years. Almost no other state in the country is able to provide additional money for local school districts. Almost every other state in the country has been forced to cut funding for education.”
Strickland discussed the component parts, of his education plan to modernize the classrooms and curriculum offerings that are available to students. “We want to expand learning opportunities, strengthen the teaching profession, revise and create better assessment methods to measure our students - that will enable us to better measure the performance of our students
against students elsewhere in this country, and around the world.” He said he will increase accountability and transparency in the way that resources are used and establish a system of funding that is constitutional in nature and will reduce the reliance on local property tax as the major source of school funding. “We also want to make it possible for our students to be engaged and taught - so innovative and critical thinking are encouraged.” He said the Department of Education will set standards that will encourage innovative formats.
Strickland said that he heard in nearly every forum from teachers that they want to collaborate with each other, plan and interact with fellow teachers, and use an interdisciplinary approach to teaching.
The budget and education reforms will establish “uniform” all-day kindergarten throughout the State. Strickland said, “Even if we did nothing else, I think that will be a step in the right direction.”
Strickland said, two “calamity days” will be phased out, “Because we believe that our students should have access to at least the national and international average when it comes to the length of the school year.”
Strickland will create a School Funding Advisory Council that will, on an ongoing basis, give advice regarding how to update the “evidence based model” - as new research becomes available on how to provide an adequate education.
Strickland said his education plan will lengthen the learning day in a gradual, phased-in way. “We want community service, tutoring, and wellness and health programs to be part of the school day.”
He will establish within the Department of Education a Center for Creativity and Innovation that will “monitor and research - results from around the world.”
Strickland said his plan will strengthen the teaching profession by establishing a four-year residency program for new teachers. New teachers will serve under the “tutelage and mentorship” of an experienced lead teacher and when they complete a successful residency program they will be able to get their professional teaching license. His plan creates a “Career Ladder” with four steps; 1) Resident Education License, 2) Professional Education License, 3) Senior Professional Education License, and 4) Lead Professional Education License. Strickland also said he is establishing new rules for the granting of tenure for teachers with seven years of experience.
A Teach Ohio program will be created with scholarships available for Ohio Teaching Fellows
who agree to teach in hard to staff schools and hard to staff subject areas.
“We will have the ability to remove teachers who should not be teachers, from the classroom. I love, admire, and honor teachers, but not everybody should be a teacher and we want to make it possible under certain guidelines and protection to remove teachers that are not performing as they should in the classroom.”
License requirements for Principals will be strengthened.
Strickland said he wants to replace the Ohio Graduation Test with a multiple approach. Every graduate will take the ACT college entrance exam, which Strickland said leads to an “uptick” of college applications from graduating high school seniors. A Senior Project and end-of-course examination will also be required.
Strickland said that there will now be oversight and accountability of all Charter Schools across the State.
Strickland said that it will take ten years to fully implement his education reform and that “Whether we continue this commitment, will determine the final outcome.”
On July 17, Strickland signed the FY 2010-2011 biennial budget bill. Click here to read the signing statement and the list and explanations for the Governor's Line Item Vetoes.
Download Strickland Budget MessageDownload Ed_Briefing_Press_updated_7.14(2) (Click here to read the "Outline of Governor Ted Strickland’s Education Reform and Funding Plan.")
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