Important new research
This week, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a new report looking at school enrollment data across the country during the second year of pandemic-disrupted education. The Voting with their Feet report shows that hundreds of thousands of families switched to charter schools during the 2020-21 school year, with charter enrollment growing seven percent. It is the largest such increase in half a decade. The full report is here. You can read some national media coverage of the findings here and you can listen to a conversation with NAPCS senior vice president Debbie Veney about their implications here.
Roadblocks
Mississippi’s Charter Authorizer Board last week rejected all school applications before it for this cycle. Thus, no new charter schools will open in the state of Mississippi next fall. The chair of the board’s application committee says that Mississippi’s charter school law is “too onerous” and advises changes to help make sure that more good schools can get started.
Blunt talk
Cynthia Williams of Painesville is the vice president of the National Coalition of Public School Options and is also mom to two graduates of Ohio Virtual Academy. In a recent op-ed, she had some blunt observations on the way that many traditional district schools unsuccessfully pivoted to remote learning during the pandemic so far. She previews some new research and makes a pitch for more and better virtual charters across the country.
Transportation troubles continue
The exact nature of charter school student transportation infrastructure in Dayton this year is a bit hazy as it is described in this local news piece. Unfortunately for at least one charter family, the chaos and consequences created for them by late buses and inconsistent routing is all too clear.
New leader
Breakthrough Schools is celebrating the impending arrival of a new leader. Ralph Johnson will begin his new role as CEO in mid-October, replacing longtime leader Alan Rosskamm who is retiring after more than a decade at Breakthrough. Mr. Johnson comes to his new role from twenty years and many responsibilities at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. Kudos and best wishes to him and all of Breakthrough’s families, teachers, and staff members.
Still time to register for upcoming events
Buckeye Charter School Boards, Inc., has several important events on tap for the fall. These include the 2021 annual conference titled Bridge to Excellence and a number of board member training sessions. You can find more details and registration information here.
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