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Opportunity approaching on the horizon?
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, as promised, released its list of proposed school consolidations and closures on Wednesday. It’s big, resulting in at least 23 fewer buildings being operated by the district by the start of the 2026-2027 school year if it all comes to fruition. There is no mention of what will happen to any of the buildings that close, but if CMSD is to realize any fiscal benefit from the plan, it seems highly likely that they will have to sell some or all of them. Here’s hoping that is the case and that Cleveland charter and private schools will soon have multiple opportunities to acquire usable, purpose-built facilities for their own expansions.
Opportunity receding on the waves?
Journalist Patrick O’Donnell digs into the efforts at building an educational “alliance” in Indianapolis, instituted by a flurry of state legislation passed earlier this year. His take seems pretty pessimistic, with all the old territorial antagonism between districts and other alternatives (charter, private, microschool, etc.) spelled out in detail and dominating the discourse. But at least one charter leader seems to be trying to push past all the fatalism: “I’m optimistic,” says Jeremy Lugbill, CEO of Career Academy Network. “Have we done it before? No, but I believe that people are starting to see the value in collaboration. The bottom line is that a rising tide lifts all boats. We can make each other better.” Will any traditional district leaders be willing to meet him out there on that tide?
The view from Houston
Texas Senate Bill 1882 was signed into law in 2017—offering incentives and state support for districts who want to revamp their schools’ operations to create new and innovative education models, including by reconstituting those buildings as charters—and many districts around the state have taken up the offer since then. Houston Independent School District is considering joining up for the first time and facing vociferous pushback from the usual suspects.
Civics Bee 2026
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is now accepting applications from any sixth, seventh, and eighth graders who want to compete in the 2026 National Civics Bee. This is a competition intended to inspire young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Students must respond to a four-question essay prompt proposing ideas to improve their communities. Entry is free and open to public, private, charter, and homeschool students alike. The deadline is February 3, 2026. More information and application details can be found here.
Planting seeds
Also open now: Applications for the Charter School Growth Fund’s next Seed Grants. The program is designed to strengthen the foundations of early-stage charter organizations and to provide them with catalytic resources for growth as they expand their impact in the communities they serve. The Seed Grant is specifically for younger charter school organizations that are interested in growing to increase opportunities for students in their community. To be eligible, schools must, among other requirements, be opening a new school or replicating a school site by Fall 2026 or Fall 2027 that will serve at least 250 additional students when fully grown. The application deadline is December 4, 2025, and more information can be found here.
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