- Journalist Doug Livingston’s dogged investigation into the closed Next Frontier Academy charter school gave him two more bylines as 2015 came to a close. First up, two business owners who did construction/maintenance work on the building that housed Next Frontier are still owed money. (Akron Beacon Journal, 12/30/15). More oddly, a church moved into the building after Next Frontier closed its doors. And good old shoe leather work revealed that a small group of kids somehow connected to the church were attending online classes (via an e-school) elsewhere in the church building. This seems an odd set up (unless some information is unclear here) and worthy of further questioning. Enquiring minds want to know. (Akron Beacon Journal, 12/30/15)
- As the old year closed editors in Cleveland opined in favor of ODE’s new charter sponsor evaluation system. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 12/31/15) Editors in Akron opined similarly in regard to the sponsor evaluation system as the new year opened, but took their argument much further. (Akron Beacon Journal, 1/3/16)
- There’s so much to consider in this piece about interdistrict open enrollment in the Mansfield area that I hesitate to point out any of the specific things that stand out to me. I urge you to read it because all of them are important and none of them are covered in the depth they require. Let’s just say there appears to be a love/hate relationship with open enrollment among the districts interviewed, and it mostly revolves around money. (Mansfield News Journal, 1/2/15)
- The superintendent of Ontario Schools notes in the piece above that access to early college credits is one reason why families choose to open enroll in her district. Seems that that interest is widely shared across Ohio. The state’s College Credit Plus program was designed to make sure all Ohio high-schoolers knew that courses – and funding for them – were available. It seemed to have accomplished its aim: nearly 32,000 students participated in the first year of CCP implementation, compared with about 15,000 in the previous state program. This is leading to discussion of ways to expand the program, both in terms of dollars available and student participation. (Columbus Dispatch, 1/2/16)
- Here’s a brief overview of the Straight A Fund project proposals submitted by Franklin County districts, charters, ECSs, and STEM schools for consideration. Good luck everyone! (Columbu Dispatch, 1/2/16)
