National news
A student from Franklinton Preparatory High School in Columbus appeared as part of a segment on 60 Minutes this past weekend. Makaila DePriest credits her school for helping her get back on track after Covid-related school closures in early 2020 derailed what was her senior year. All of the local students’ stories are important, so here is the full video of the segment. Mikaila’s part of the narrative begins at 2:24.
More discussion of charter student transportation
Toledo City Schools announced this week that the contract between it and the local transit authority for transporting some local students would end with this school year. The new plan, at first blush, engages a private provider whose main task would be to provide transportation for charter and private school students while the district would transport its own students using in-house drivers and buses.
Return to in-person learning
Two charter schools in Canton welcomed students back to the classroom in person for the first time in a year this week. A fully-remote option remains in place for families not yet comfortable with in-person learning. “We’re returning to normalcy slowly but surely,” said one building principal. Music to everyone’s ears.
Important legislation
House Bill 67 passed out of the General Assembly and headed to Governor DeWine’s desk this week. The bill, when enacted, will make important changes to this year’s testing protocols and graduation requirements for some students in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The West Virginia Two-Step
A bill which would allow the expansion of charter schools in West Virginia was signed into law by Governor Jim Justice this week. However, since no charters have yet successfully opened in the state, “expansion” is something of a misnomer. Meanwhile, the state’s Supreme Court announced this week it would take up the case of the rejected application of what would have been the first charter school in the Mountain State.
Save the date
National Charter Schools Week 2021 will be celebrated May 9-15, and it’s an extra special celebration because this year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the first charter school law in the U.S.! You can register here for upcoming announcements of events and activities from NAPCS to mark the occasion.
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