More than six weeks after Gov. Ted Strickland unveiled his "child-centered, evidenced-based" school-funding proposal, the administration released a 37-page bibliography yesterday identifying where his strategies originated.

Lawmakers, educators and others had requested the information in an effort to evaluate the governor's plan.

Strickland spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said, "The document is representative of the research considered over the past two years while the governor and his staff were putting together this transformed system of education for Ohio."

In addition to the research, ideas were generated from the administration's conversations with education advocates at public forums across the state last year, she said.

A Republican House member says the listing of reports and papers doesn't allow for a comprehensive review.

"It has been over a month since the governor revealed his plan, and he is just now providing a small glimpse of this evidence," said Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights. "Now, we are expected to seek out each of the 300 references to understand the basis of the governor's proposal?"

Morgan, who sits on the House subcommittee reviewing the education plan, asked the administration to provide "a complete report" showing how each study or document relates to the various components in his plan.

Much of the governor's plan was derived from an evidence-based education model by academics Allan Odden and Lawrence Picus.

Strickland, a Democrat, took much of that proposal -- which called for all-day kindergarten and tutoring for struggling students -- and coupled it with ideas generated from other research and suggestions from experts.

Among the reports Strickland relied on were several conducted during previous administrations, including the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Finance completed in 1986 under Democratic Gov. Richard F. Celeste and the 2005 Blue Ribbon Task Force on Financing Student Success under Republican Gov. Bob Taft.

Several international reports also were cited, including: an article on creativity and innovation done by professors and the University of Western Cape, South Africa; a 2003 study by Finland's Ministry of Education on attracting and retaining effective teachers; and a report, Nurturing Every Child, by Singapore's Ministry of Education.

ccandisky@dispatch.com

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