Ohio Schools To Get Stars Instead Of Grades, Solon Rep Celebrates

SOLON, OH — Solon-based state Rep. Phil Robinson is cautiously optimistic that a proposed overhaul of the state's public school rating system will bring needed changes.

The new system would do away with the state report card's letter grades for school district, replacing them with stars to indicate a district's success.

“While I’m not a fan of stars, I am a fan of the descriptors for rating our schools and happy to end the scarlet letter of ‘A’ through ‘F’ grades that unfairly judge students and their communities. Compromise is important in order to get things accomplished in government, and each side gave something up,” Robinson said.

Here's how the new star system would work:

• 5-Stars: Significantly exceeds state standards,
• 4.5 to 4-Stars: Exceeds state standards,
• 3.5 to 3-Stars: Meets state standards,
• 2.5 to 2-Stars: Needs support to meet state standards,
• 1.5 to 1-Stars: Needs significant support to meet state standards.

Robinson praised the shift from describing a district as "failing" to instead describing the district as "needing help."

The legislation would also:

• Temporarily suspend the grading of "Prepared for Success" for three years. If the Ohio Department of Education wishes to resume using that metric, it must be reviewed by the state legislature. Currently, 84 percent of all Ohio schools receive a "D" or "F" grade on the "Prepared for Success" component.
• Creates a new Student Opportunity Profile that reports data regarding a school’s opportunities and statistics like student to teacher and staff ratios, teacher education levels, school technology, and more;
• Creates a long-term, bipartisan school ratings study committee. The committee will be composed of legislators from both chambers and parties, and educators appointed by the state superintendent. The committee will examine any issues facing the school ratings system and submit reports showing their findings.