'State Report Card System Isn't Working': Solon Politician

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Department of Education's school district report card system "isn't working," according to state Rep. Phil Robinson.

Robinson, a Democrat from Solon, testified on behalf of his plan to overhaul the state's school assessment system. Currently, school districts are given grades, from A to F, rating them on a variety of metrics. Districts are then assigned an overall grade.

“Simply put, our current state report card system isn’t working for schools, students, and our communities. It is a one-size-fits-all policy that fails to accurately reflect the continuous improvement, success, and growth of Ohio’s students and educators,” Robinson said during testimony this week.

House Bill 200, which Robinson co-introduced, would replace the state's grades with new performance ratings. The legislation would require the State Board of Education to adopt rules to establish performance criteria for performance ratings and a method to assign them to performance measures. It does away with overall grades of buildings and districts, only rating each component.

"Reforming the state report card system is the first step in restoring the Ohio Promise of educational opportunity for all. With nearly 60 co-sponsors, this bipartisan legislation will begin to help address the long-lasting, systemic issues in Ohio’s education system and end the piecemeal approach that is failing our students," Robinson said.

House Bill 200 awaits further hearings before the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee.