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- Utterly fascinating coverage here of a K-12 education panel recently held in Dayton. Put on by the Dayton Business Journal and dubbed “a table of experts”, the conversation doesn’t read anything like you might expect at first. That is largely because of who isn’t at the table: No charter schools are represented at all, and traditional school districts are represented only by the superintendent of the Montgomery County Educational Service Center. Instead, we have the leaders of three Catholic high schools and one independent, nonsectarian private school all singing from (if you’ll pardon the expression) the same hymnal. Lots of talk of rigorous academics, high expectations, choices for families, strong test scores, and postsecondary opportunities for students. Oh, and lots of love for EdChoice. (Dayton Business Journal, 2/16/24)
- And staying with the theme of the day, the biggest news in this piece is that the Greater Dayton School has at last moved operations to its fancy new purpose-built campus after operating in temporary digs for more than a year. While the main topic is a school-based health center co-located in the new building to provide services for students and families (nice), we also are reminded of the very important basics: The innovative private school is intended to serve only low-income students and its model includes an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. school day, family-style meals with teachers, extracurriculars, and lessons in financial literacy and other life skills. Currently there are 105 students in preschool through fourth grade, with the plan to add a grade level per year through eighth grade. Families pay a nominal fee toward tuition, the rest of which is offset by vouchers and other scholarships. I’m still waiting for details of how the kids are doing (you know, data), but this is great news to me as it stands. (Dayton Daily News, 2/18/24)
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