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Addressing the real problem
Cleveland Metropolitan School District leaders this week announced the layoff of more than 400 staff members including teachers, administrators, and support staff. This is in addition to the closure of more than two dozen buildings announced previously. They are all part of the effort to deal with a looming and unavoidable budget deficit. While the media coverage largely blames charter and private school choice for CMSD’s woes, the truth is more complicated and includes Covid-era decisions coming home—predictably—to roost.
Showcase
While this piece is subscriber-only content, it still feels great to know that dedicated readers of The Morning Journal in Lorain got to see a positive and in-depth piece chronicling a day in the life of Jessica Varner, the business manager/community engagement coordinator at Horizon Science Academy. Kudos!
The real work begins in Indy
The new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation overseeing all of K-12 education in the city held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday. Not much happened beyond swearing the mayorally-appointed members in, but future meetings will likely focus—perhaps predictably—on money. Specifically, whether to put a new funding measure for the city school district on the November ballot.
Expansion in North Carolina
TMSA Public Charter Schools recently closed on $77.9 million in education revenue bonds with the help of North Carolina’s Public Finance Authority. This will support construction or expansion of three K-8 campuses across the state. Two of the expansion campuses—in Durham and McLeansville—are on track to open this fall, and one in Raleigh will open its doors in 2027. Growth was driven by student demand. “This investment allows us to meet that demand responsibly,” said network superintendent Ben Karaduman, “while maintaining the high standards and outcomes that define TMSA.”
Maximum flexibility for families
Katherine Anne Porter School in Wimberley, Texas, is looking to add fully-remote and hybrid options for the 2026-27 school year in order to provide more options for families, especially those living in rural areas between Austin and San Antonio. The charter school serves grades 8-12 and focuses on students who for whatever reason did not fit in in a traditional district school setting, including a large percentage of kids transitioning from homeschooling to a more formal education model. Superintendent Mariah Ingram credited recently-passed Texas Senate Bill 569 for allowing these new options, saying they are “fantastic for our student demographic.”
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