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Changing the Plan?
Several members of the appointed school board of Cleveland Metropolitan School District have raised the possibility of ending the charter partnership portion of the Cleveland Plan, a sweeping revitalization effort signed into law by Gov. Kasich in 2012 and updated in 2021. At a board meeting this week, members suggested both ending their role as sponsor for three charters (requiring them to find a new sponsor or close up shop) and to stop sharing millions of dollars in local levy funding with several other “partner” schools. All of this is being mooted as CMSD is struggling with a giant budget deficit—for which none of these charters is responsible—but it is likely just venting at this point. As district CEO Warren Morgan explained, ending sponsorship and partnership would mean that charter student achievement would no longer be counted in CMSD’s stats and a portion of previously-voted funding for the district (as part of the Plan) would also likely cease. Here’s hoping that no one feels compelled to push this clear lose-lose proposition forward beyond lip service.
New plan in Toledo
Speaking of districts facing financial troubles, Toledo City Schools’ elected board members unanimously approved a plan (dubbed Transformation 2.0) designed to help them dig out of their own budget hole. Among the plan’s many facets is what is termed a “3-tiered busing system” geared to lessen the number of required routes each day, easing a chronic bus driver shortage and saving money. Of interest to charter and private school families in Toledo is an end to third-party transportation contracting. “We will also be integrating the transportation of parochial and charter school students into the system,” said chief of educational development James Gault. “That will allow us to cancel the outside transportation service and keep our buses for that service for those students.” Fingers crossed for a smooth transformation for all.
Taking the reins
Phoenix Modern, a six-year-old K-8 charter in the Arizona capital, has been facing financial trouble almost from the beginning. After years of struggle, it looked like the school would need to close. But instead, school parents banded together and launched their own nonprofit organization to take over the charter with big plans to right the financial ship. Best wishes to all as they conclude their current school year and embark on a new year of change starting July 1.
Take it from someone who knows
Here is a fantastic op-ed published in The Tennessean last week extolling the virtues of charter schools generally and of the KIPP Nashville network specifically. And while the author makes a knowledgeable case for the benefits of KIPP’s educational model—focusing on numerous student and staff voices—she also makes a convincing case for the awesomeness of Valor Collegiate Academies, another charter network in the city. Why? Because the author, Mayan Rashid, is a highly-accomplished senior at Valor who plans to attend Princeton University in the fall. She knows excellence when she sees it.
(Im)perfect record
Meanwhile, just a couple of hours south of Nashville on I-65, the elected school board of Birmingham (AL) City Schools voted this week to reject the latest charter school application to come before them. (This time, a proposed K-8 school, with a stated focus on “a dynamic interdisciplinary model that integrates Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math.”) While Alabama’s charter commission has occasionally overruled them—and could do so again in this case—the elected board still maintains its dubious “perfect record” of never approving a charter application.
Ohio charter school grant applications now open!
Grant applications are now open for more than $97 million in federal grants to support Ohio charter schools. The funds include $50 million through the Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grant—supporting creation of new schools and expansion of existing ones—and $47.5 million through the Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant—designed to lower facility costs, enhance workforce readiness opportunities, and expand access to high-quality schools. Ohio’s winning federal proposal for CSP funding emphasized serving students in regions with limited access to quality school options, including rural and high-poverty areas; boosting innovative educational models; and serving more students in grades 9-12. Application information for CSP grant funds can be found here. Application information for Facilities Incentive Grants can be found here.
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