“I may not be here for class….”
Jan 18th
More than 1,600 students were identified by Columbus City Schools as living in transitional circumstances last year. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act helps improves access to education for homeless students.
Teacher-blogger Ms. Cornelius shares the experience of one of her students at A Shrewdness of Apes:
One of my AP students came into my room and handed me her homework. “I may not be here for class, Ms. Cornelius.”
“Oh? Why not?” I asked.
And then she started crying. Big fat tears from eyes squeezed tight.
“The school… the school… they are kicking us out and say we don’t live where we are living….”
To sum up, it basically equals a lost job, a lost home, living with a family friend until they move into a new apartment in a few weeks. They pulled her out of her class and told her she was no longer enrolled and to go home. They did not contact her parents, and she doesn’t drive. So she huddled in my room for two hours until she finally could get grandma to come and pick her up.
To read about the entire experience, visit Ms. Cornelius’ post.
To learn more about the McKinney-Ventro Act, or if you are concerned about a student, please contact Project Connect at 365-5140 x225.
CCS, others at Race to the Top starting line
Jan 16th
The application period for Ohio’s public school districts and charter schools to join the state’s Race to the Top (RttT) application expired on Friday, Jan. 8.
The most recent list released by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) contains the names of 483 traditional public school districts and charter schools as participating Local Education Agencies in the states RttT efforts.
Charters Outnumber Traditional Districts In Preliminary Ohio RttT Participant List
Jan 9th
"Race Track - Start 50" by Flickr user Celikins.
The time period for Ohio’s public school districts and charter schools to join the state’s Race to the Top (RttT) application expired on Friday, Jan 8. Guidelines for the grant set by the United States Department of Education prevent private schools from applying for RttT funds. Only public school districts and charter schools were allowed join a state’s grant application.
On Thursday, Jan. 7, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released an incomplete list containing the names of 252 traditional public school districts and charter schools as participating Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in the state’s RttT efforts.
Speak Out: How Did You Spend Your Snow Day?
Jan 8th
"I Miss Summer" by Flickr user Fensterbme.
The convergence of an excessive accumulation of snow, high winds, low temperatures and treacherous driving conditions prompted Columbus City Schools to cancel classes and all extracurricular activities on Friday, Jan. 8.
Throughout central Ohio, thousands of CEA members woke up to the silent beauty of freshly fallen snow and the realization of an unexpected day out of the classroom.
Friday marked the district’s first use of a snow day for the 2009-2010 school year. For hundreds of first-year teachers in CCS it was their first snow day ever.
How did you spend your first snow day of the 2009-2010 school year?
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CEA Takes Race To The Top’s First Steps
Jan 7th
"Run" by Flickr user Fe Ilya.
Last year, Congress passed the $900 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To receive federal stimulus money, Ohio and other states promised to make the following educational reforms:
1) Implement standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed after graduation
2) Develop data systems measuring student growth and success
3) Recruit, support and reward effective teachers and develop incentives to retain them
4) Turn around lowest achieving schools
Race to the Top (RttT) is a $4.3 billion competitive grant program that builds upon the reforms set forth in ARRA. The United States Department of Education (USDOE) under the direction of Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is administering RttT. Its purpose is to encourage and reward select states that are implementing significant reforms in four areas listed in ARRA.
The absolute priority of RttT is that states applying must be prepared to make a comprehensive and systemic approach to education reform. States must demonstrate that they are prepared to decrease achievement gaps and increase student achievement, as well as high school graduation rates.
The first round of RttT applications from states is due to the USDOE by mid-January. Individual school districts can sign up to be a part of the grant by submitting a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the state. Ohio’s MOU requires signatures from the school district’s superintendent, school board president and teacher union president to join the grant application. CEA President Rhonda Johnson has signed the MOU on behalf of the Association.
Once independent reviewers score each application, states that are selected to receive RttT funding in the first phase will be announced in the spring of 2010. States that are selected to receive grant funding in the second round will be announced in September of 2010. Ohio could receive up to $400 million, if the state’s application is approved.
CEA Lends Support To Federal Grant Application
Jan 2nd
Ohio could receive up to $400 million in federal education funding, and some of that could come to Columbus.
Last week the CEA Board of Governors voted unanimously to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the CCS Superintendent and the CCS School Board President, agreeing to join the State of Ohio’s application to receive Race to the Top (RTTT) funding.