Ohio’s school funding revamp
While HB 305 passed the Ohio House last week, we heard fairly definitively this week that the Senate is not planning to take action on that bill—a thorough revamp of the state’s school funding process—or its own companion bill during remainder of the lame duck legislative session. The General Assembly will likely take up the funding effort anew 2021.
Also next year…
Speaking of the future, NAPCS president Nina Rees looked ahead to the Biden presidency and presented a number of important charter school-related issues for the new administration to consider. She urged Biden’s team to visit high-performing charter schools across the country and to listen to parents, students, and alumni to fully understand how vital charters are to communities and families.
2020 still ongoing
While some are understandably focused on 2021, we cannot forget that there are still students in schools for a while longer here in 2020. Here is a perfect example of the dichotomy: While Chicago Public Schools ramps up to initiate a hybrid learning model in January, it is looking for successful efforts at hybrid education to emulate. WBEZ-FM digs into the work of North Lawndale College Prep, a two-campus charter school in the city, which has been operating—successfully, it seems—their version since the start of the school year. Sounds like some amazing work by staff, students, and families, with some unexpected benefits.
2020 in Ohio
While operating fully remotely, Horizon Science Academy in Toledo has still been successful in operating their Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in the virtual space. And they are being rewarded for that vital work with a Bronze Level award from the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council. Kudos!
Time’s Kid of the Year
A new partnership between Time magazine and the Nickelodeon cable channel has brought us the very first Kid of the Year honoree. Surely you’ve heard of Gitanjali Rao already: The Colorado teenager was previously named America’s Top Young Scientist when she was in the seventh grade for her work in creating a simple lead detector after reading of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. She was also named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2019. Now the cover of Time! But did you also know that that Rao attends a STEM-focused charter school which has helped kindle her love of and aptitude for science? Not every media story includes that tidbit, but it feels like just one more thing to celebrate along with her already-remarkable accomplishments.
