To the editor:

The state takeover of school districts (House Bill 70 of the 131st General Assembly) has caused chaos in school communities, fattened the wallets of consultants, but has not demonstrated improved test scores. See https://www.cleveland.com/news/2019/06/has-state-takeover-improved-struggling-schools-test-scores-say-no.html.

The federal government, via No Child Left Behind (NCLB), has created chaos in school communities throughout the nation. Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is not much better than NCLB. The feds are attempting to run schools via NCLB and ESSA with no success. Some states like Ohio are also trying to run school districts with no success.

The feds need to help the states implement a system of education in accordance with each state’s constitutional provisions. In turn, the states need to help districts provide equitable and adequate educational opportunities and then butt out of local school management.

Communities have far greater capacity to manage their schools than state and federal officials.

Sincerely,
William L. Phillis
Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding
www.ohiocoalition.org