12/6/2010-12/15/2010
Breakthrough charter schools in Cleveland get $2 million for expansion
The Cleveland Plain Dealer-December 10, 2010
The Charter Growth Fund has approved $2 million worth of grants and low-interest loans to the Cleveland group, Breakthrough Schools, to open up four new schools within the next two years. This is the first time the national funder has recognized a charter group in Ohio and will assist with the opening of two elementary and two middle schools.
Snow day alternative: Online classes
Cincinnati Inquirer-December 11, 2010
The Mississinawa Valley School District in western Ohio is piloting a program in which students will take classes and complete work online during calamity days. Although more and more students are taking classes online, there is still the barrier of not all students having computers or broadband access at home.
Stimulus gives troubled schools options
The Columbus Dispatch-December 12, 2010
Seven Columbus City Schools will be using a portion of their $20 million in stimulus money for outside consultations about areas of improvement. Those seven schools will also invest as much as $700,000 of the federal grant in teacher incentives and merit pay. The progress will be partially be measured by whether the percentage of students who pass state math and reading exams increases or not.
Why Michelle Rhee isn’t done with school reform
Newsweek-December 6, 2010
After leaving her position as Chancellor for Washington D.C.’s Schools, Michelle Rhee is determined to keep the school reform movement strong by starting StudentsFirst, a national movement to transform public education in our country. StudentsFirst will engage parents, family, and the community in order to enhance student achievement.
Scott calls for school choice
Miami Herald-December 9, 2010
Florida Governor-Elect, Rick Scott, says he wants to expand options that allow students to attend the schools of their choice at public expense. Although no bill has been written as of yet, Scott favors a voucher-like program allowing parents to choose where the dollars for their children are spent.
Meeks wants to give private-school vouchers to 50,000 students
Chicago-Sun Times-December 15, 2010
Along with other school reform ideas, if elected Mayor of Chicago, James Meeks wants to offer $4,500-a-year vouchers to 50,000 low-and-middle-income Chicago families to use toward private school tuition. Meeks believes that Chicago Public Schools are “broken” and it is now time to give families a choice in their child’s educational future.
