Kasich Midterm Budget Plan Will Improve Ohio Schools

COMMENTARY | Ohio Gov. John Kasich's midterm budget plans include some of the most innovative polices ever introduced to address the needs of the state's public schools. Liberals and union leaders will quickly attempt to reduce the plan to a political battle and criticize the common sense and fiscally responsible approach to classroom enhancement. True to form, Gov. Kasich is not afraid to delve into an ongoing problem head-on and emerge with an intelligent plan to make a positive difference in the lives of Ohio residents.

The plan addresses the reading skills of elementary school students. Passing a student onto upper-level elementary grades when the child cannot read at grade-level dooms the child to failure. Concerns relating to the self-esteem of failing students are worthy of discussion, but long-term self-confidence will be adversely impacted when the child continues to fall behind peers and eventually quits school due to increased frustrations with coursework.

Gov. Kasich's plan requires third graders not reading at grade level after two years of intervention services be held back, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. When a child cannot read, completing science, social studies and math lessons at the fourth grade level and above are impossible. Under the proposed plan, students with learning disabilities or non-native English speakers would be exempt.

Even though Ohio academic standards list 43 percent of fourth grade students as advanced readers, just 9 percent make the cut when scores are judged with the National Assessment of Educational Progress scale. The elementary reading intervention services are not an unfunded mandate. Gov. Kasich understands the fiscal issues facing many of Ohio's school districts and will utilize existing federal Title I funds to pay for the educational tutoring.

Once the midterm budget is approved, the Ohio school district academic progress rating system will also be updated to better reflect the needs of modern students preparing for college and the workforce. The change was considered in part to address the problem of recent Ohio public school graduates requiring remedial assistance in math and English in college, according to the Plain Dealer.

The new evaluation is far more comprehensive and offers a realistic measurement mechanism for schools of varying sizes and geographic climates. In addition to overall and student performance scores, Gov. Kasich's plan includes an individual student population performance category to review the academic progress of disabled children and other nontypical learners.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kasich-midterm-budget-plan-improve-ohio-schools-224800152.html

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