This is the last edition of Ohio Charter News Weekly for the year. Thank you so much for reading and subscribing. We’ll be back on Thursday, January 6, with a wrap up of 2021 news you can use and resume regular Friday publication for the new year on January 7.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This piece has been edited from its initial publication to eliminate a story about a purported charter school that was, in actuality, a private school.
First salvo
A new charter school for students in grades 6-12 is being proposed for the city of New Albany. This is only possible because geographic limitations on charter school location were finally removed in Ohio in the most recent state budget bill. It is, hopefully, the first of many such efforts to broaden their reach to places where options have been limited.
Latest salvo
Here is a look at ongoing efforts to unionize the teachers at Menlo Park Academy in Cleveland. The situation sounds somewhat contentious at the moment, but here’s hoping for a resolution that puts children and families first.
What’s next?
We have heard much about enrollment declines in public schools across the country as fallout from Covid-disrupted education continues. A recent webinar—“Voting With Their Feet: Responding to Increased Demand for Innovative Schools”—looked at what lies ahead for charter schools in this new reality. Panelists included such leaders and experts as Dave Sokola, Delaware State Senator; Jessica Sutter, D.C. State Board of Education; A.J. Crabil, Director of Governance for the Council of the Great City Schools; and Debbie Veney, Senior VP, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. The panel also included the important family perspective, featuring two parents from Florida and Alabama. Full video of the event is available here.
The further view from Florida
The wants, needs, and actions of Black Florida parents are compellingly detailed in this ReimaginED report, published last week. It was compiled by Denisha Merriweather (American Federation for Children), Dava Hankerson (Step Up For Students), Nathaniel Cunneen (American Federation for Children), and Ron Matus (Step Up For Students). The report both quantifies and qualifies the ways in which the phenomenal growth of school choice in the Sunshine State has been driven by Black families looking for the very best educational options for their children. A vital read.
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