State Support Team Region 11

Education Week Rates States' Educational Systems

Ohioans have many reasons to be proud of our educational system. Ohio is 7th in the nation in the 12th annual Quality Counts report released by Education Week on Jan. 9. Ohio received an overall score of 80.6, giving us a B- compared to a C for the nation. None of the 50 states or the District of Columbia scored higher than a B.

This achievement can be attributed to Ohio’s dedicated teachers, administrators, students and families, who have worked to continuously improve Ohio’s schools. Ten years ago, Ohio was “stuck in the middle” when compared to other states. Today, Ohio is a leader in the nation. While we know we have future work ahead of us, let’s celebrate our successes today.

Quality Counts 2008: Tapping Into Teaching examines critical factors that can improve teaching and learning. The information used to develop this report is culled from a variety of sources, including sources other than the Ohio Department of Education, and may not reflect all of Ohio’s current data. The six areas examined include:

Standards, Assessments and Accountability

Ohio received high marks for the current system of standards, assessments and accountability and ranked 7th in the nation with a score of 93.2, resulting in a grade of A.
Ohio was given credit for academic content standards that explain what students should know in every grade level and subject that are aligned with our state tests.
Ohio received a high grade for using extended response questions on achievement tests, instead of just multiple choice.
In addition, the state earned a perfect score for a unified system of rating schools and districts that combines both state rankings and the federal measure of Adequate Yearly Progress.

K-12 Achievement

Ohio ranked 14th nationally in this category based upon achievement, improvements over time and equity. No state excelled in all three areas.
Strong reading and math scores in 4th and 8th grades bolstered Ohio’s performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card.
Ohio students also made strong gains on NAEP between 2003 and 2007 and narrowed the gap between the performance of lower and higher income students, based on national school lunch program eligibility.
In the report, Ohio’s graduation rate of 74.7 percent was higher than the national average of 69.9 percent. It should be noted that Education Week used a different method of calculation than the Ohio Department of Education reports, resulting in a different graduation rate.
The report noted that 11th- and 12th-grade student participation on the Advanced Placement tests lagged behind the national rate.

Transitions and Alignment

Ohio scored 12th in the nation on how well the K-12 education system aligns with preschool and postsecondary education.
Ohio received a perfect score for the alignment of the early childhood education system to the elementary, middle and high school system.
Ohio has made considerable efforts to ensure students are ready for college, yet the state received no credit for the Ohio Core legislation or the Partnership for Continued Learning.
Ohio Core legislation requires more rigorous curriculum in preparation for college. The program was not in place at the time of data gathering, which is why Ohio did not receive credit.
Through the Partnership for Continued Learning, the Governor’s Office, State Board of Education, Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Board of Regents are working to align curriculum, testing, and college entrance requirements to create a seamless P-16 system of education in the state.

The Teaching Profession

Ohio ranked 14th nationally when looking at the way the state prepares and assesses teachers.
The state received high marks for the data system that monitors teacher quality.
The state also received high marks for the system of evaluation of teachers and teacher preparation programs.
Ohio received credit for strong mentoring and induction programs for new teachers and administrators.
Ohio did not receive credit for incentives to teachers to work in hard-to-serve areas and fields.
In the areas of teacher incentives, pay-for-performance and differentiated roles for educators, Ohio received no credit because the report did not recognize programs that are not fully established or deployed statewide. Ohio has a nationally recognized Teacher Equity Plan that is addressing these issues through pilot programs in urban school districts and close monitoring of teacher distribution.

School Finance

Ohio ranked 13th nationally for its system of financing schools, scoring above the national average in the amount of money spent per pupil adjusting for regional cost differences.
The state also ranked above the national average in the percentage of taxable resources spent on education.
Ohio ranked 8th in the nation when comparing the difference between low-spending and high-spending districts.

Chance for Success

The Chance for Success score placed Ohio in the middle of the states, tied for 24th, based upon 13 economic, environmental and educational factors. Governor Strickland has targeted many of the areas that are in need of improvement.
Ohio received strong ratings for the K-12 education experience as well as graduation rates, family income and the proportion of parents who are fluent English speakers.
Ratings remained average for factors influencing adults, including postsecondary participation and steady enrollment.
Ohio received low ratings for parent education, annual income and adult educational attainment.
The kindergarten enrollment rating was based on a national household survey that is not consistent with the Ohio Department of Education’s data, which reflects higher numbers.

To view the national and state Quality Counts reports, click here.