- Lots of folks in the Dayton area seem to be angst-ing over ongoing expansion of the EdChoice Scholarship program to give vouchers to more students from low-income families each year. Even the comments section is more lively than usual for the DDN. (Dayton Daily News, 8/19/17)
- Speaking of active online comments, folks in Youngstown seem to have quite a bit to say about the district’s plan to eliminate a requirement for students to carry see-through backpacks and instead instill a “climate of trust” between students and staff this year. Says East High School’s new principal: “A couple places you would expect to see... clear backpacks are airports and prisons. We are neither.” (Youngstown Vindicator, 8/20/17)
- Here are yet more details on the new “freshman academy” taking shape within the Colossus of Lorain (aka their schmancy new-ish high school building, which it seems is really very tremendously large). Interesting parallels with Youngstown in regard to issues of discipline and trust, although I might suggest tucking everyone away in the “penthouse” with the same handful of teachers and a couple of “safety officers” every day could be misconstrued in that regard. But that’s probably just me. Best wishes to everyone on this new endeavor as the school year begins. (Northern Ohio Morning Journal, 8/19/17)
- Six community and philanthropic organizations and a board of nearly three dozen community members of wide-ranging affiliations are planning on working hard to bring the Say Yes to Education program to Cleveland. The folks who run the program seem to think it’s mainly about college scholarships; the folks getting ready to work for its arrival in Cleveland seem to think it’s mainly about wraparound services in order to make going to college possible. Shall the twain ever meet? Stay tuned. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 8/18/17)
- The United Way of Summit County is changing tack in embracing four new Bold Goals to improve the lives of disadvantaged county residents. Those goals are: 1) Improving third-grade reading scores. 2) Increasing four-year graduation rates and college/career readiness. 3) Empowering as many as 11,000 people with improved personal financial knowledge and skills. 4) Greatly reduce emergency room visits due to drug overdoses. Not to short change goal number 4, but, “Our long-term strategy is really goal one, two and three,” said the UW boss. This seems like a sea change for United Way work and fairly surprising to your humble clips compiler. Better yet, the United Way is planning to redirect its considerable financial support and volunteer corps to align with them. Color me impressed. (Akron Beacon Journal, 8/17/17)
Topics:
