If you haven’t seen the extraordinary artwork downtown supporting Black Lives Matter, take a  look . Better yet,  follow the artists  and find ways to amplify and support their work. 
Quotable and Notable
"There is evidence that police in schools  work at cross-purposes  with educational goals. This is particularly true for Black students, who are arrested at school at a  far higher rate  than members of any other racial or ethnic group.… That’s why any conversation about getting rid of SROs in schools must go hand in hand with a discussion about more guidance counselors and mental health supports for students. Cops in schools are emblematic of an approach to social policy that too often criminalizes rather than prevents. There is a longstanding counselor shortage in many communities –  disproportionately impacting  students who most need good schools to launch them in life."

- Andrew J. Rotherham, co-founder and partner at Bellwether Education, writing for the 74 Million
Fact of the Week
The number of students in the United States who attend a school that has a police officer, but no counselor, according to ACLU data. More illuminating stats here .
Policy Radar
City of Columbus  
The City put forth a  resolution  declaring racism a public health crisis in Columbus. Meanwhile, members from the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus introduced  resolutions  to  declare  racism a public health crisis statewide. During legislative discussions on this, Sen. Cecil Thomas read portions from a  Cincinnati Enquirer  column he penned,  which is worth reading in full . 
 
Child care  
As Ohio child care providers move toward reopening – and with new health restrictions in place – here are a few articles illustrating the realities that come with it: 
 
State budget  
The  Columbus Dispatch  looks at  the latest numbers related to Ohio’s budget shortfall. 
 
K-12 schools  
State lawmakers continue to envision what a fall reopening can and should look like for Ohio schools, with one  proposed bill  making it entirely up to districts to determine this for themselves. More guidance from the Department of Education and state superintendent is  expected soon . 
 
Nutrition and food security  
Recent changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) services now enable Ohioans to use their cards to purchase food online, without having to pay in the stores or curbside. According to ODJFS Director Kimberly Hall (as shared in Gongwer News), "We know many Ohioans are struggling and that food purchasing has been a challenge for many, especially older Ohioans and those with limited access to transportation. We hope online purchasing gives individuals more options and makes it easier for them to both stay safe and eat nutritiously." 
 
On the topic of food security, here’s an  interesting read by Education Dive  regarding what’s at stake if certain federal waivers expire. The article also provides useful background on the National School Lunch Program. 
New from Crane
  • While child care in Ohio has begun to reopen, many parents and caregivers still find themselves at home with young children. Crane senior research associate Dr. Kate Nelson has research-backed tips to make the most out of shared reading experiences.
  • Crane's latest white paper "Is Pre-Kindergarten Too Much Work and Not Enough Play?" addresses concerns that preschools may be too academic in nature. The authors examined three measures of academic instruction in pre-kindergarten, and compared the experience of preschoolers with those in kindergarten and first grade.
FYI
ICYMI: OSU leaders, including our own dean Donald Pope-Davis, participated in a virtual discussion this week on  the role of universities in addressing racial tensions . It is available to watch  here . 
Beyond the Buckeye State
Last week, Minneapolis Public Schools  terminated their contract  with the Minneapolis Police Department, which supplies school resource officers, in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Data from the Minneapolis Public Schools 2018-2019 school year showed that school cops had more interactions with Black students than their non-Black peers.  Student activists nationwide  are calling for districts to cut ties with local police departments.  
What We're Reading
Ohio playgrounds could reopen starting Wednesday. Cincinnati.com has some tips on how to  stay safe on the playground . 
 
This  Toledo Blade  editorial  asks its city not to give up on universal pre-kindergarten efforts, despite the recent setback posed by the failure of Mayor Kapszukiewicz’s attempts to establish it through the Issue 1 levy. 
 
An  Education Week  Research Center   survey  revealed 10 key findings on how educators feel about returning to school while COVID-19 is still looming. One key finding is that 65% of educators surveyed said schools should remain shut down to slow the spread of the virus.  
 
Chalkbeat compares Ohio and New York’s different  plans for managing coronavirus budget cuts  in schools. While Ohio cut public school funding to the tune of $300 million, Governor DeWine made the decision to cut more funding per pupil in higher-income areas, in an effort to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable, high-poverty districts and students. In contrast, New York state disproportionately cut funding from high-poverty school districts and is relying on federal funds to fill the gaps.  
Events & Happenings
June 17 at 12 pm: Columbus Metropolitan Club is hosting their next forum  Racism: A Public Health Issue . The venue can only accommodate 50 in-person attendees, but livestreaming will be available on their  YouTube channel . This discussion will feature Shannon Hardin, Columbus City Council President and Kevin Boyce, Franklin County Commissioner. Hosted by Jo Ingles, Reporter, Statehouse News Bureau.
Research Round Up
A  paper  published in  Educational Researcher  and described by  Education Week   examined the racial bias of teachers. Researchers from Princeton and Tufts University found that the teachers they studied do hold racial biases, and that while they “are probably more well-intentioned than the general population... they still have the same bias levels.” According to the authors, “The findings suggest that if schools are to effectively promote racial equity, teachers should be provided with training to either shift or mitigate the effects of their own racial biases.” 
 
Education Dive  breaks down  another study published in Educational Researcher, which examined declines in incoming kindergarteners’ academic skills (particularly pronounced in math). The analysis was led by researchers at NWEA as well as Margaret Burchinal at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and suggests that the Great Recession may have had an impact on the early home environments for the children studied. This is not-so-great news to anyone wondering how the current economic hardships may impact families and children. 
This edition written by: Jamie Davies O'Leary, Associate Director of Policy and Caitlin Lennon, Communications & Policy Specialist
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