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Ohio’s charter sector is on the grow!
A brand new charter school—Portage Leadership Academy—will be opening in Ravenna this fall, serving students in grades K-5. Even better: PLA will continue the educational legacy of a building recently closed by the local school district. Meanwhile, student enrollment has been growing steadily at Sheffield Academy in Lorain County since it opened four years ago. School leaders are adding four modular classrooms to accommodate even more students starting next school year.
Enrollment slump in D.C.
Charter schools in Washington, D.C., are not immune to the enrollment declines afflicting the district. Here’s a look at Capital Village Public Charter School—whose governing board voted to close the six-year-old charter at the end of this school year after a precipitous decline in student numbers—and some others whose operators have made the same decision recently.
Ohio’s transportation pilots
School Transportation News this week gave us some welcome details on two pilot programs testing out student transportation innovations here in Ohio, both looking at ditching big yellow buses and instead utilizing smaller, more-nimble vehicles. One pilot, in central Ohio, has already concluded, with some positive impacts on student attendance and parental satisfaction but costing a ton. The second one, largely serving students with special needs in Montgomery County, hasn’t had quite as measurable an impact but is more cost-effective and is planned to continue through the 2027 fiscal year. Fascinating stuff.
Parental push in Georgia
A group of parents in tiny Dublin, Georgia, have been working for nearly a year to establish a charter school in their town. Middle Georgia Preparatory Academy would focus on STEM, the arts, and hands-on learning. The local elected school board has been fighting the effort all the way, voting to reject the organizer’s application last December. Undaunted, the group this week appealed to the Georgia State Charter Schools Commission. “Education isn’t one size fits all,” said Dublin mom Brittany Lancaster. “Every child learns differently, and that’s what I like about this school — it’s just going to be another opportunity for parents to have their children succeed.” Here’s wishing them all good fortune in their effort.
Last call for registrations for the Ohio Charter School Leadership Summit
Ohio’s premier annual gathering of charter school leaders, policy makers, and industry experts is less than 2 weeks away! An exciting roster of speakers and guests has been confirmed, including U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, Ohio Senate Education Chair Andrew Brenner, Ohio House Education Chair Sarah Fowler Arthur, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin, and others. There’s still time to register for the event, which will be held on Wednesday, April 1, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in Columbus. Click this link for registration and more information on this opportunity to foster collaboration, share perspectives, and join the forward-looking conversations that support long-term success.
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