20 years of serving Dayton students
Here is a profile of Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. What started as a college prep program in Dayton City Schools has become one of the best charter schools in the state, serving students K-12. Huge congratulations to staff, students, and families for two decades of outstanding effort with many more to come.
Data on academic success
New data from San Antonio, Texas, indicates strong academic performance by charter school students in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, especially as compared to their traditional district peers. A spokesman for the Texas Charter Schools Association said, “Charter schools [are getting] increasingly good at zeroing in on what different kinds of students need, and refining their curriculum, refining their instructional methods” to provide the services needed.
Conversion with a twist
Two new charter schools opened this year in Montgomery, Alabama, joining a third opened in 2021 as conversions of traditional district schools into charters. The model is an interesting one, combining some continued oversight and control of funds by the district with the choice-friendly aspects of charters. Student assignment zones are still in effect—sort-of—along with the option of other families outside of those zones to attend as well. It is a work in progress, likely worth watching for its impact on student achievement going forward.
Georgia’s next state superintendent?
Alisha Thomas Searcy is running for state school superintendent in Georgia. She is a former state representative and also the former head of Ivy Preparatory Academies, a chain of all-girl charter schools in the Peach State. As you might imagine, she is outspoken in her support for charters and choice as she crisscrosses the state ahead of the November election.
Webinar series for serving children experiencing homelessness
An upcoming webinar series from SchoolHouse Connection will cover the basics of the McKinney-Vento Act’s rights and protections for children experiencing homelessness and will highlight best practices for schools serving them. Participants will also receive materials to use in their schools. Webinars will be held throughout the school year, but two upcoming sessions are McKinney-Vento 101 on Thursday, September 15, at 2 p.m. ET, and Identification Best Practices for School Staff on Thursday, September 22, at 2 p.m. ET.
Work for the Fordham Foundation
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation’s Sponsorship Team has two part-time openings to help with oversight of its charter school portfolio. You can check out the details for School Data Analyst and School Quality Analyst, both based in the Cincinnati/Dayton area.
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