Think tank: Community support, state funding needed to reform Youngstown schools

COLUMBUS — For reform of the city school district to work it needs commitment from the community and funding from the state, an education fellow at a public policy think tank says.

“Obviously, the big challenge is funding,” said Stephen Dyer, education policy fellow with Innovation Ohio. “The Ohio Constitution says school funding is the state’s responsibility, not the local district’s. If the state insists on this radical new school governance the least they can do is send the funding to do it.”

Innovation Ohio was to release Tuesday a report that recommends classroom level reforms and integrated student or wrap-around services for the district.

It also warns the district should rely on research-based reform rather than reform proposed by ideologues. And it cautions against converting the city public schools into charter schools.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com