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A long journey
By any measure, Dayton teacher Shareka Gibson has paid her debt to society. But it took nearly eight years after her release from prison to rebuild her life. It’s an involving story, worthy of your time and attention. It’s good to know all of the agencies and individuals in Montgomery County and elsewhere working to help former prisoners re-enter society. Today, Ms. Gibson teaches science at an unnamed charter school in the Gem City, and she says her background has allowed her to connect to some of her students in a positive and hopeful way.
Momentum and more
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce last week released its various lists of high-performing schools as determined by state report cards. Three charter schools earned the Overall 5-Star Building Award: Imagine Akron Academy, Horizon Science Academy Primary – Columbus, and Citizens of the World Charter Schools – Cincinnati). Kudos to those outstanding schools. Many many more charters across the state also earned The Momentum Award for schools that have “demonstrated outstanding improvement in achievement while also continuing to show growth”. Great work!
Send money
It’s finally real! Legislation passed in 2023 requires school districts in four Indiana counties to share a portion of new tax dollars they receive from increasing property values with charter schools in their boundaries. Last week, Indianapolis charters got their first look at how much money they can initially expect: Around $4 million shared out among them for the 2024-25 school year. It’s interesting that news coverage makes it sound both like small potatoes and something that will really hurt the district all at the same time. One thing is for sure, it’s likely to be game changing for those schools receiving it.
Significant opposition
Colorado House Bill 24-1363, introduced earlier this month, is aimed at “charter school accountability”, but would, among other things, allow traditional districts the ability to revoke a charter if that district’s enrollment is decreasing, allow community members to appeal an approved charter, and end the no-cost allowance for charters to rent district facilities. While introduced and championed by fellow Democrats, Governor Jared Polis is not a fan of the legislation. “Colorado is a national leader in education access, innovation and choice,” Polis’ office said in a statement. “Public charter schools are a popular option in Colorado, serving around 15 percent of our school-age children. This bill would weaken, rather than strengthen, school choice in Colorado, and the governor strongly opposes it.” Kudos, Governor!
Message to the legislature
Speaking of lawmakers, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools had some choice words for those in her state who might be thinking of pursuing legislation that would micromanage education. “The Legislature should focus less on laws dictating how to educate students and resist the temptation to create more training and curriculum mandates that have nothing to do with the basics of learning and core subjects,” she writes. “While it is always with good intentions, these mandates are not moving us closer to improving literacy rates.”
Go toward the sunshine
Perhaps the biggest charter news of the week was the announcement that New York City’s Success Academy is considering expansion outside the Big Apple—way outside. Success founder and CEO Eva Moskowitz testified at a Florida State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, saying that New York has been “a rather hostile political environment” for charters and that she is in search of “friendlier terrain” for expansion. She later added she’s looking for “a place that’s high-growth, that’s high-innovation, that is welcoming to parental choice.” The Sunshine State would very much fit that description.
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