Gov. Kasich’s plan is expected to incorporate positions advocated by conservative school reformers nationally , including changes in teacher evaluation, school vouchers and digital learning.

 According to the Associated Press, Kasich is aligned with positions advocated by education finance expert Eric Hanushek; former Washington schools chancellor Michelle Rhee; and Google’s Sebastian Thrun.  

Hanushek is a researcher at Stanford University who often testifies in lawsuits over school funding. He says teacher quality can be measured by what students learn. Opponents, including teacher unions, say that doesn’t take into account wide gaps in the socio-economic backgrounds of students and schools.

Michelle Rhee is the former D.C. chancellor who runs StudentsFirst and who has battled tenure and teacher seniority. She’s advocated more parental control over school funding, which could result in more school vouchers for certain types of kids.  

Thrun is an expert in robotics who has worked on Google’s driverless car system and has founded Udacity, a private on-line education company,

Kasich is expected to meet Thursday afternoon with charter school officials and public school superintendents. He’s expected to formally unveil his state budget next Monday.