- Declining enrollment due to, among other things, the burgeoning of charter school options, the exodus of families to the suburbs, and smaller Catholic families, has conspired to force five Dayton Catholic schools to consolidate into two buildings. The effort will allow the schools to share the costs of staffing, building space, and other services. There may well be a lesson here for some of Dayton's smaller charter schools, and perhaps even for the Dayton Public Schools.
"5 Catholic schools to combine," by Anthony Gottschlich, Dayton Daily News, December 2, 2005
- A study comparing 2005 NAEP ("the nation's report card") results across eleven major cities showed serious weaknesses in the performance of Cleveland district students. Top cities included Austin, TX and Charlotte, N.C.
"Cleveland students near back of the class," by Ellen Jan Kleinerman, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 2, 2005
- The financial struggles of the Columbus Public Schools have been well chronicled of late. District leaders even considered lengthening this year's winter break to save on heating bills. Unfortunately, these economic challenges have not been painful enough for the district to agree to sell unused or underused school buildings to needy charter school operators, some of whom have more students than space.
"District will keep closed schools for temporary classes," by Bill Bush, Columbus Dispatch, December 5, 2005
"Columbus students' break may get longer," by Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch, December 1, 2005
"District puts kibosh on plan to lengthen winter break," by Jennifer Smith Richards, Columbus Dispatch, December 3, 2005