An Ohio Department of Education district review team is in Dayton this week because its schools are considered “at risk.”
The visit to Dayton Public Schools is part of a new early intervention effort from the state.
The week-long visit is the first step for troubled districts to address their problems with help from the state. DPS ranked second lowest in the state for student performance in the most recent report card. Dayton is serving as the guinea pig for this process.
Education department spokesperson John Charlton says in the past districts would need to declare an academic emergency before the state would come in to retool.
“We’ve expanded that program so we’re looking at those that are close to that, or a high alert for that. And so this is the first year we’ve put this process into place,” he said.
The review team will talk to teachers, administrators and students, among others. It will look focus specifically on six standards: leadership, governance and communication; curriculum and instruction; assessment and effective use of data; human resource and professional development; student support; and fiscal management.
The team is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the Dayton school board during a future meeting.
A team will also be in Trotwood next month for a site visit to its district’s schools.