- One more post-budget story? Sure thing! State legislators and Governor DeWine are being lauded for providing $5 million over the next two years to traditional district, charter, and private schools serving girls in grades six through twelve to help provide free feminine hygiene products for their students. The first two million will go directly to schools to purchase dispensers for the products; the remainder will be used to provide reimbursements to schools for products purchased to stock the dispensers. This piece discusses the bipartisan work that led to the successful budget measure. Nice! (Cleveland.com, 7/26/23)
- Speaking of school-based supports for students: It’s hard to argue that there’s much lacking in terms of wraparound services provided to students in Akron’s I Promise School. Physical and mental health, social services, food, clothing, counseling, and much more have been part of the program from Day One. It is now five years since that day, and district leaders are expressing concern about the dire-sounding academic outcomes for I Promise students presented to them this week. Among the items of concern: This fall’s rising class of eighth graders hasn’t had a single student pass the state’s math test since the group was in the third grade (although there was one pandemic year where no tests were given). Internal test data, student growth numbers, and comparisons to non-I Promise district students indicate a more nuanced picture, but the numbers are still concerning given the scope and timeframe of the intervention. All eyes appear locked on incoming principal Stephanie Davis to kickstart the academic work of the school. (Akron Beacon Journal, 7/27/23)
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