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A new model of transportation
Here’s a fantastic look at Columbus’ United Schools, a charter network that last year took on responsibility for transporting all of its own students for the first time. The details are interesting and important, especially the comments from school families. United Schools CEO Andy Boy reminds us that this was an expensive endeavor—$1.8 million last year—with the state of Ohio covering only one-third of that cost. But it seems worth supporting a system focused on serving students and the schools’ culture of success, not entrenched adult or organizational interests. Best wishes to all for an exemplary second year!
Ohio’s latest ranking
The Center for Education Reform this week released its annual rankings of state charter school laws. Ohio landed in 9th place with a grade of B-. That’s a rise of nine spots over the previous year, due to what CER terms “stronger fidelity to the intent and written word of laws already on the books.” You can check out the full rankings and analysis here.
Charter funding changes in Missouri examined
The Fordham Institute released a new report this week, examining the impacts of a 2022 Missouri law intended to close the longstanding funding gap between charter and traditional district schools. Despite an enormous infusion of new dollars at the outset, the gap was only narrowed slightly. It remains large today and looks poised to expand further in the next five years. What’s the catch? The state’s underlying school formula “keeps recreating the very gap it’s meant to close,” according to the report foreword authored by Amber Northern and Michael Petrilli. You can read the full report here.
Following up on a story from New York
Last week, we talked about a twisty tale from Hempstead, Long Island, where the New York State United Teachers union sued to block Diamond Charter School from opening in a temporary location this fall—in a neighboring town—because their permanent location was still under construction. Just yesterday the judge ruled that blocking the school from opening would “disrupt the lives” of the students and families who were planning to attend. Barring any last-minute legal wrangling, school should start as planned in the temporary space on September 1.
Focusing on the important stuff
Starlee Coleman, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, was interviewed by Philanthropy Roundtable recently. While the headline focuses on what are termed “policy threats” facing the charter sector, Coleman is much more positive in her actual answers to the questions posed. Education policy in general is “vulnerable to fads,” she says, but she seems confident that charter schools—and the philanthropic resources that support them—can focus on taking “the time required to determine whether an idea truly works.” She says that donors and supporters “should look for opportunities anchored in foundational truths and build on tried-and-true principles, policies and practices.” And that holds true for her in many facets of education.
Not all the news can be good
The elected members of the Bethlehem (PA) Area School District voted unanimously this week to deny the application for Community Charter School of the Arts to open in their district. Not because of any deficiency in the school’s STEM/arts integration model, but because everyone was sure that the interesting and innovative plan would “steal” students and money from them if it opened. In fact, elected board member Silagh White liked the proposal so much she suggested the district could launch similar curriculum in its own buildings. Charming. CCSA leaders will likely keep working to get approval ahead of their proposed opening in fall 2027.
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