K-12 Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public policy organizations influencing the debate on education policy.
Featured Stories
FCPS Receives Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting From Association of School Business Officials
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 18 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The award recognizes FCPS for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023.
ASBO's certificate of excellence in financial reporting confirms the school division's commitment to financial accountability and transparency, and recognizes that FCPS has met or exceeded the program's high standards
... Show Full Article
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 18 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) received a certificate of excellence in financial reporting award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The award recognizes FCPS for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023.
ASBO's certificate of excellence in financial reporting confirms the school division's commitment to financial accountability and transparency, and recognizes that FCPS has met or exceeded the program's high standardsfor financial reporting and accountability.
ASBO International is a professional organization of 5,000 members that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices, professional growth, and the effective use of education resources. Visit http://www.asbointl.org/COE for more information about the award program.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-receives-certificate-excellence-financial-reporting-association-school-business-officials
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools: Charter School Changemakers Raise Their Voices on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools issued the following news release on May 15, 2024:
Today, seven passionate charter school leaders convened on Capitol Hill to participate in a panel discussion focused on advocating for public education. Hosted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the panel brought together the 2024 Charter School Changemakers, individuals who are making an exceptional difference in their schools and communities, and who go above and beyond to shape students' lives for the better. These seven individuals are unique in their
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools issued the following news release on May 15, 2024:
Today, seven passionate charter school leaders convened on Capitol Hill to participate in a panel discussion focused on advocating for public education. Hosted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the panel brought together the 2024 Charter School Changemakers, individuals who are making an exceptional difference in their schools and communities, and who go above and beyond to shape students' lives for the better. These seven individuals are unique in theircommunities, but together, represent a unified force for creating more high-quality public education options for families.
The 2024 Charter School Changemakers are:
* Daniyal Hussain, high school senior at Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School in New Mexico, and panel moderator
* Zak Dominello, executive director at Ricardo Flores Magon Academy in Colorado
* Dr. Chris Her-Xiong, founder and executive director of Hmong American Peace Academy in Wisconsin
* Eric Pettigrew, former state lawmaker and advocate in Washington state
* Jametrice McAdams, parent from Empower Community School in Alabama and a former ELA educator
* Julia Rivera-Tapia, parent and administrator at J. Paul Taylor Academy in New Mexico
* Cheryl Stahle, academic administrator at West Virginia Virtual Academy
The Changemakers shared insights, experiences, and strategies aimed at bolstering support for charter schools and advancing the cause of public education. Their collective expertise spanned areas such as educational policy, parent and community engagement, curriculum development, and school administration.
"Today's panel was an inspiring demonstration of the commitment these advocates have to ensuring all students have access to quality education," said Eric Paisner, Acting CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The Changemakers travelled to Capitol Hill during National Charter Schools Week, an annual celebration of these unique public schools and their impact on communities across the country. This year's theme is Raise Your Voice and the National Alliance is celebrating by honoring the more than 250,000 dedicated teachers at 8,000 schools, thousands of lawmakers and advocates, and nearly 4 million students who are part of the charter school community. This week-long celebration encourages everyone to raise their voice for high-quality public education options for all children.
Among the topics discussed were the importance of fostering collaboration between public charter schools and district public schools, advocating for equitable funding mechanisms, and empowering parents and communities to be active participants in shaping the educational landscape.
Julia Rivera-Tapia: "Having spent many years as an educator in charter schools, I can vouch for the benefits of being in an environment that invests in the growth of its staff and provides individualized attention to all students. Every charter school is a unique puzzle piece that fits the needs of its students and families, and it is crucial to advocate for each one of them."
Jametrice McAdams: "Like most parents, I believe that all educational systems SHOULD prepare our children to enter careers and be productive members of society. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for kids in my community. However, the charter school model has been a vehicle for change and opportunity. These models are what have me most excited about the future of public education. I'm excited to advocate with other parents who are invested in ensuring that their child's charter school is a success for years to come. My charter school has given me renewed hope in the public education system."
Eric Pettigrew: "As a member of the Washington State House, I became an advocate for charter public schools--which I believe provide a great complement to traditional public schools, especially for students of color. This past legislative session, as my former colleagues considered what policies to advance, I urged them to ensure that all students across Washington state have access to a public school that meets their needs."
Daniyal Hussain: "Advocating for charter schools means I am raising my voice for something I believe is truly important for my community. Charter schools like Cottonwood Classical often offer more opportunities than other schools, like the IB curriculum. I believe all students should be able to take something like this and should not be held back because it is too expensive, or their school does not offer it. Raising my voice for charter schools means showing the need for these unique public schools and putting more effort into supporting them."
Dr. Chris Her-Xiong: "To raise my voice for charter schools is to provide opportunities for the underserved, underrepresented, and low-income populations in my community. The children in my community deserve a quality education so they are equipped with the skillsets and mindsets to go to and through college and pursue a career of their choosing. Hmong American Peace Academy, like other high-performing charter schools, enables giant leaps forward from one generation to the next. I am most excited about the future of public education and the opportunities afforded to our young people because the power of education is transformational."
Cheryl Stahle: "Raising our voice for charter schools means championing and advocating for educational innovation, choice, and opportunity. It means standing up for families who seek alternatives to traditional public schools and ensuring that every child has access to high-quality education regardless of their zip code or background."
Zak Dominello: "Our public education system is due for a paradigm shift to meet the needs of all unique learners. Not all students fit into the model of their closest district or public charter school, and by providing multiple options with differing models and philosophies, we can do what is best for all children. Seeing a shift to support all students will require a collective voice to make the longstanding change. The future of education consists of the traits I see in my students daily: curiosity, voice, empathy, compassion, and skills like bilingualism and social advocacy. I am excited to raise my voice for a future of unity toward a common goal: accessible and equitable education for all students."
* * *
Original text here: https://publiccharters.org/news/changemakers-raise-their-voices-on-capitol-hill/
[Category: Education]
FCS Board Bulletin for May 16, 2024
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 17 -- Fulton County Schools issued the following news on May 16, 2024:
The Fulton County School Board met on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, for its regularly scheduled Board meeting at the South Learning Center. Following are highlights of some of the more highly discussed topics, with the full agenda available online (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Other topics discussed or approved are available via BoardDocs (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Summaries of Board actions can be found here (https://www.fultonschools.org/boardbriefs) and Board
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, May 17 -- Fulton County Schools issued the following news on May 16, 2024:
The Fulton County School Board met on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, for its regularly scheduled Board meeting at the South Learning Center. Following are highlights of some of the more highly discussed topics, with the full agenda available online (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Other topics discussed or approved are available via BoardDocs (https://go.boarddocs.com/ga/fcss/Board.nsf/Public). Summaries of Board actions can be found here (https://www.fultonschools.org/boardbriefs) and Boardpolicy updates can be found here (https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/23109). Meetings are streamed live on the FCS district homepage (https://www.fultonschools.org/codeofconduct). Recordings will be available within 48 hours (https://www.fultonschools.org/boardvideos).
Superintendent's Report
Chief of Staff Cliff Jones provided the Superintendent's report on behalf of Dr. Mike Looney, who was attending the Every Day Counts Summit at the White House in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the superintendent, the Board and the thousands of employees at Fulton County Schools, Jones praised and thanked all the high school seniors participating in their upcoming graduation ceremonies. He acknowledged some may still be working toward earning their diploma, saying the district has summer activities available to help them finish school and achieve this goal.
Summer Learning online registration ends May 24, with in-person registration at local sites on June 3 and 4. Middle and high school students and their parents or guardians may register through the Infinite Campus portal, and elementary students should register with their local schools.
Mr. Jones concluded his report by recognizing this as National Police Week, thanking the FCS Police and law enforcement officers across the country for their service.
Board Approves FY 2024-2025 Tentative Budget
Sound financial stewardship and a strong commitment to taxpayers were paramount in the development and approval process for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 tentative budget. At the meeting, Chief Financial Officer Marvin Dereef outlined the details in the proposal for the Board and public.
Leading the highlights, the FY2025 tentative budget includes a 4.5% increase and a step increase for all eligible employees valued at $56 million. The budget also includes increased employer contribution costs for retirement and health care benefits. Also included is $24.4 million in funding to transition some ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) initiative items to the General Fund, including Instructional Coaches and Summer Learning costs. Other budget highlights noted by Mr. Dereef include opening a new school called The Promise Career Institute, closing S.L. Lewis Elementary School, and investing in a Professional Development initiative called Level Up Fulton.
Additionally, the recommendation includes assigning funds for textbook adoptions, mostly for science, and establishing a separate fund for Risk Management items. The budget tentatively recommends a slight reduction in the millage rate to 17.13, one of the lowest rates compared to other school districts in metro Atlanta.
General Fund - $1,422,055,825
School Nutrition Fund - $57,085,647
Special Revenue Fund - $92,314,586
Capital Program Fund - $660,668,166
Pension Fund - $42,099,757
Student Activity Fund - $19,255,290
The total appropriation amount for all funds is $2,293,479,271.
Adoption of the 2024-2025 final budget is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024. All details of the tentative budget, including budgeted salary schedules, all provisos, School Allotment Guidelines, and the five-year capital program are contained in the FY25 Budget Book and can be found here (https://www.fultonschools.org/budgetservices). For more information about the budget process, watch Mr. Dereef's interview on "Let's Talk Schools" here (https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/28527).
Policy Updates
The Board took action on Policy IJ: Programs, Pilots, Evaluation, and Research that creates new requirements for the district and schools related to maintain an up-to-date program inventory, processes to request programmatic additions, and budgetary requirements that will be shared with the Board of Education. Cross councils and training materials for School Governance Councils will reflect these changes in alignment with the Fulton County Schools Strategic Plan.
Staff presented the updated Student Code of Conduct for 2024-2025 for information. The current revisions have been crafted based on comprehensive input from a cross-section of our community, including feedback from parents, principals, district and school administrators, and behavioral specialists, as well as insights from an analysis of student discipline data. This year's revisions to the Code of Conduct introduce new rules, refined terminology, and enhanced guidelines, particularly for addressing harassment offenses and managing serious infractions within schools. See the Student Code of Conduct here.
New Hires & Promotions
The following individuals were approved for new positions at the Board meeting:
* Karen Cooke | Principal, Heards Ferry Elementary School
* Shawana Arnold | Principal, Renaissance Elementary School
* Erica Fox | Director of Accelerated and Extended Programming
* Yasmine McKenzie | Director of Applied Learning and Design
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/28556
DALLAS ISD: NEW OPPORTUNITIES ARE AHEAD FOR YOUNG WOMEN'S STEAM ACADEMY
DALLAS, Texas, May 17 -- The Dallas Independent School District issued the following news release:
As a leader in innovation and change, a new opportunity is emerging for a school in the southeast corner of Dallas ISD.
The girls at Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School will be soon dropping a piece of their name and becoming Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs (YWSA). Through a partnership with the Young Women's Preparatory Network, YWSA will become the second all-girls high school in Dallas ISD.
When the school bells ring and doors open back up for the fall 2024
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, May 17 -- The Dallas Independent School District issued the following news release:
As a leader in innovation and change, a new opportunity is emerging for a school in the southeast corner of Dallas ISD.
The girls at Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs Middle School will be soon dropping a piece of their name and becoming Young Women's STEAM Academy at Balch Springs (YWSA). Through a partnership with the Young Women's Preparatory Network, YWSA will become the second all-girls high school in Dallas ISD.
When the school bells ring and doors open back up for the fall 2024semester, YWSA, which historically served girls in grades six through eight, will be expanding to serve students all the way through twelfth grade.
During its first year, YWSA will add a 50-member freshmen class. The campus will then implement a new grade level each year until the inaugural class graduates in 2028. The school will also make history as being Dallas ISD's only all girls high school to offer athletics.
Rubianna Sanchez, principal of YWSA, said expanding into high school is pushing the norm for an all-girls neighborhood school.
"This is an opportunity for the girls in our community to get a premium, private school education right in the heart of Pleasant Grove," she said.
While continuing to be a neighborhood school and holding on to the principles of growth, innovation, leadership, and service, the school will be offering rigorous and advanced placement courses to the students in the community.
"Every day, the girls are asking what we are going to do and what the activities are going to look like, so they are really trying to get in the high school mindset," said Sasha Hampton, assistant principal.With a mixture of nerves and excitement, the school is ready for this new opportunity for not only the girls but the community as a whole.
"I'm a first-generation college graduate, my dad is from Mexico and only finished the sixth grade and my mom graduated from high school. A lot of students here have the same experience," Sanchez said. "With an opportunity such as this we'll be able to guide students early and help their parents go through the process of preparing for life after graduation. Families won't have to figure it out on their own like I had to do."
Instead of having to travel to different parts of the district, the girls will have in-house access to corporate partnerships, internships, and engineering certifications courses that will help to close the opportunity gap and change the long-term trajectory for themselves.
With more work comes the need for more help, so the campus will be implementing a full-time college success advisor for students beginning the moment they step on campus in sixth grade.
"When girls start in sixth grade, we want them to start thinking that they will be with us until they graduate," said Hampton. "You are Lady Jag from sixth all the way through to twelfth grade."
* * *
Original text here: https://us11.campaign-archive.com/?u=1882a54dd5b4a5f6ef4cf9f4d&id=2f9b477d93
JPS Announces RFP for Redevelopment of Surplus School Sites
JACKSON, Mississippi, May 16 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news:
Jackson Public Schools has released its comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and launched the new Repurposing Initiative web page (https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/6311) that will help to promote the reuse and redevelopment of our surplus school sites.
Our primary goal is to revitalize these properties, transforming them into valuable assets that contribute to the growth and prosperity of Jackson's neighborhoods.
In a press conference on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Superintendent, Dr. Errick L. Greene
... Show Full Article
JACKSON, Mississippi, May 16 -- Jackson Public Schools issued the following news:
Jackson Public Schools has released its comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process and launched the new Repurposing Initiative web page (https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/6311) that will help to promote the reuse and redevelopment of our surplus school sites.
Our primary goal is to revitalize these properties, transforming them into valuable assets that contribute to the growth and prosperity of Jackson's neighborhoods.
In a press conference on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, Superintendent, Dr. Errick L. Greenesaid the Jackson community and Board of Trustees have made it clear that they want a plan of action to repurpose our closed or soon-to-be-shuttered buildings.
"We've heard the call and established the Facilities Repurposing Advisory Committee to help us strategically develop a comprehensive plan," Greene said during the announcement. "We've received an overwhelming amount of interest in the properties from various individuals and organizations and the RFP process and the new web page will provide a direct avenue to submit competitive proposals for the Board of Trustees to review."
Whether it's repurposing a school as a community center, a healthcare facility, affordable housing, or a creative hub, our vision is to leverage these sites to meet the diverse needs of residents, Greene added.
Ms. Latoya Cutts, Project Consultant, shared details about the RFP, new web page, and how stakeholders can purchase or lease any properties.
Read more about the JPS Repurposing Initiative here (https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/domain/6311), including a list of closed sites, undeveloped property sites, proposal guidelines and resources for interested developers.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=779&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=45921&PageID=1
FCPS Annual Financial Report Recognized by Government Finance Officers Association
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 16 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the U.S. and Canada. FCPS was recognized for its financial reporting work for the fiscal year ending in June 2023. FCPS has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 30 consecutive years.
The award, the highest form of recognition in the area of
... Show Full Article
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, May 16 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the U.S. and Canada. FCPS was recognized for its financial reporting work for the fiscal year ending in June 2023. FCPS has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 30 consecutive years.
The award, the highest form of recognition in the area ofgovernmental accounting and financial reporting, is conferred to organizations that demonstrate a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate their financial stories.
GFOA is a nonprofit professional association that serves approximately 19,000 government finance professionals.
All FCPS budget documents are accessible at http://www.fcps.edu.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-annual-financial-report-recognized-government-finance-officers-association
CCSD Honors Rookie Teachers of the Year
CHARLESTON, South Carolina, May 16 -- Charleston County School District issued the following news release on May 15, 2024:
Charleston County School District (CCSD) recognized four first- year teachers Thursday, May 8, 2024, by surprising them with Rookie Teacher of the Year awards.
Denicsha Bennamon (Morningside Middle School), Philip O'Reilly (Septima P. Clark Academy), Tara Pucetas (Oakland Elementary School), and Paige Van Orden (Belle Hall Elementary School) were all honored with a visit from Superintendent Anita Huggins and district staff.
Bennamon is a seventh grade social studies and
... Show Full Article
CHARLESTON, South Carolina, May 16 -- Charleston County School District issued the following news release on May 15, 2024:
Charleston County School District (CCSD) recognized four first- year teachers Thursday, May 8, 2024, by surprising them with Rookie Teacher of the Year awards.
Denicsha Bennamon (Morningside Middle School), Philip O'Reilly (Septima P. Clark Academy), Tara Pucetas (Oakland Elementary School), and Paige Van Orden (Belle Hall Elementary School) were all honored with a visit from Superintendent Anita Huggins and district staff.
Bennamon is a seventh grade social studies andworld geography teacher. She made it her mission to create a culturally inclusive classroom where all students, despite their English proficiency, felt included and supported in their academic learning journey.
"I worked to gain cultural awareness of all scholars and their diverse backgrounds," Bennamon explained. "I created a project that allowed scholars to illustrate their cultural values, as some created posters, showcased culturally- related foods, songs, etc. Everyone became educated on one another's cultural backgrounds, and all projects were displayed around the classroom. This created friendships, a high tolerance, and a respectful, comfortable, nonjudgmental, and welcoming environment."
O'Reilly, a Career and Technical Education teacher, strives to be a trustworthy and predictable adult who neither tries to be identified as a peer nor patronizes his students.
"I have used this rapport to engage them about their lives, their fears and their private aspirations," O'Reilly explained. "Success for me is to partner with them to describe an individual path out."
Pucetas is a third grade English language arts and social studies teacher. She believes every child needs a champion whether that be for the micro or the macro things.
"One way I encourage students to learn from their mistakes is to make mistakes myself," said Pucetas. "It's crucial to remember that the kids in my class were humans before they were a student. So how do they learn from mistakes? I model it. I often make a mistake on worksheets, on quizzes, and tests, but I always make sure that I voice 'I'm human, I make mistakes, but I'll know how to fix it the next time.' My students are so acclimated to this that any time I make an error, they automatically say, 'It's okay, we all make mistakes.' When we've built that narrative, there's never a chance for students to think that mistakes are not okay."
Van Orden is a K-2 Resource teacher. She believes that building trust with students and families is critical to a child's success.
"Trust, in return, builds strong relationships between myself and my students," said Van Orden. "When students have a strong relationship, respect and trust their teacher, it motivates students to be able to focus on learning and want to do well with their learning."
The CCSD 2024 Rookie Teachers of the Year represent the top first-year teachers at the lower and upper elementary, middle, and high school levels. Each teacher was nominated by their principal for embracing the district's vision for teachers who truly exemplify the best in their school.
After being selected by the schools, the rookies wrote essays in which they described the ways that they meet the needs of their students and their families. These applications were rated by a team of veteran educators who had the difficult job of finding the top Rookie Teachers of the Year.
"It is a privilege to recognize and honor the CCSD Rookie Teachers of the Year," said Associate Superintendent Terri Nichols. "These amazing teachers, first recognized by their schools and then chosen by a district selection committee, have demonstrated a level of commitment and expertise far beyond their years of experience. They have already had a tremendous impact on the students they serve as well as their school communities. We are delighted to honor them in this small way for their dedication to the children of Charleston County School District."
"We are honored to recognize these outstanding educators who have not only shown growth in their profession but are seeing gains among their scholars," said Gayle Morris, Director of Leadership Pipeline. "They deserve to be celebrated every day for their tireless work."
* * *
About the Charleston County School District
Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally accredited school district committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban, and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves approximately 50,000 students in 88 schools and specialized programs.
CCSD offers a diverse portfolio of educational options and specialized programs delivered to the students of CCSD through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori, and charter schools and programs. Rich educational opportunities for students include programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; military; dual credit; and many more.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ccsdschools.com/cms/lib/SC50000504/Centricity/Domain/119/CCSD%20honors%20Rookie%20Teachers%20of%20the%20Year.pdf
