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    Proficiency testing and the State Board of Education’s “Report Card” are listed on this website apart from educational reform due to the complexity of each issue. I focused educational reform on the problems of school funding, but it must be noted that these topics are inextricably bound to one another. Let us first examine the recent changes in Ohio law regarding how members are chosen for the State Board of Education and then discuss what these individuals have done to our educational system by taking a glimpse at Proficiency Testing and the State Report Card.

    From its creation in 1956 until 1995, the State Board of Education consisted of eleven members who were directly elected by the people. Thus, they were accountable to the people. But all this changed in July of 1995 when the General Assembly passed the new state budget (HB 117, I believe), and it expanded the Board by creating eight new members who were appointed by the governor and NOT accountable to the people. The question of whether or not this was constitutional was brought forth in a lawsuit against the Governor and State Board of Education. Then in an effort to circumvent the trial process, State Representative Charles Brading introduced HB 602 on March 9, 2000. This proposed legislation would amend the State Constitution before any ruling could be made. It later became known as HB 711 which was passed by both houses and was signed into law by our current governor on July 7, 2000 and became effective on October 5, 2000. Once again, the power of government is wrestled away from the people!

    So where does that leave us today? Our classrooms are still regulated by our State Board of Education. If you are unfamiliar with the current members please familiarize yourself with their credentials at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/board/Default.asp?pfv=True .  Viewing the questionable qualifications of many of these members, it is no wonder why our proficiency testing requirements continue to change. School districts are left guessing what, if anything, will happen next! Now, the current ninth grade proficiency test is scheduled to be phased out and replaced by a tenth grade proficiency test known as the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT). I have seen our district forced to change its curriculum to adhere to these new state mandates to gain points on the “State Report Card,” and I am deeply concerned that such changes will hinder the education of our students by providing them with proficiency classes instead of curriculum classes.

    Schools are becoming increasingly more concerned with their rating on the “State Report Card.” Communities are competing with each other, and many misinformed parents are too concerned about their school’s report card grade and whether or not their children will pass the test needed to graduate. In the Miami Valley, districts like the prestigious Oakwood, Centerville, and Tipp City score excellent ratings while districts like Trotwood, Dayton, and Sidney end up in “Academic Watch” or “Continuous Improvement” categories. To compare these districts is totally unrealistic because they have major socio-economic differences in each community. When the “grades” are released, parents become increasingly more frustrated with their school district, which in turn, causes the district to act in manners that likely will result in more proficiency-based classes, “watered-down” subjects, and more complications for teachers who are already overworked and underpaid. Then angry parents turn to charter schools and home schooling. And I do not blame them, but all this usually exacerbates current conditions and puts our educational system into a death spiral. Talk about misguided leadership....I encourage you to investigate for yourself these issues as well as the elected and appointed members of our State Board of Education. Ohio needs a wake-up call before they flush all of our schools down the drain!

    I believe communication is the key. If I am elected, I would seek out qualified individuals to nominate to the State Board of Education, individuals who are keenly aware of what is going on in our schools. I would also seek to develop a system of options for school districts to meet state standards to avoid the dreaded “one size fits all” dilemma of school comparisons. I would encourage every state lawmaker to participate with me in a program in which we would spend one week touring a variety of schools. Participating as students in the classroom and connecting with teachers and administrators, I believe our lawmakers would understand their obligation to find a better way to fund our schools. Working together, we can save our schools.

Paid for by the Committee to elect Whitman and Clark. 

Treasurer, Lana Whitman, 3716 Co. Rd. 31 South, Bellefontaine, OH 43311