Exporting opposition
Ohio-based charter school opponent Dennis Smith published an editorial in the West Virginia Gazette-Mail recently, lauding the current court injunction against the first charter schools in the state and repeating the tired and debunked canards against them in his support for a more permanent halt.
More choice in Youngstown
Meanwhile, back in Ohio, the Academy for Urban Scholars has opened a new charter high school in Youngstown, providing a pathway for young people to earn their diplomas along with certifications in health care, advanced manufacturing, and IT, among others. They are also working with local employers, eager for new workers, to place student trainees. Nice!
The view from Idaho
In its end-of-year report, charter support organization Bluum reports nearly 2,000 new charter school seats were created in Idaho in 2021. The opening of four new startup schools and the expansion of three other existing schools are responsible for the majority of the expansion. Kudos to all!
The view from Florida
Pasco County, Florida, is booming with new homes. And that means lots of incoming families with children looking for schools. A report from the Tampa Bay Times says that home builders initially pointed new residents to local charter schools as an alternative to crowded district buildings but now district officials are jumping on the bandwagon as well. It is amazing how far into the mainstream choosing schools has become. Let’s hope that even more such family-focused efforts will follow.
Speaker series to aid teacher effectiveness and wellbeing
The EdWisely Speaker Series 2021-2022 continues with three upcoming virtual events focused on educator efficacy and wellbeing. Sessions titled “Self-Care in Practice”, “Teach Better, Work Less: EduProtocols”, and “Better Meetings” are all coming up. More information on these free events and links to register for all three can be found here.
*****
Did you know you can have every edition of the Ohio Charter News Weekly sent directly to your Inbox? Subscribe by clicking here.
