That's a wrap on our open houses this week! Students and their families got a sneak peek of their schools last night at Cochran and Hepburn-Lycoming Primary schools and WAHS!
Do you have a student in Denver Public Schools? Check out the new Mile High School Guide to help you choose a public school that fits the needs of your child → https://lnkd.in/gKSRzPXH #denveredexplorer
“When schools get below a certain size threshold, they start facing these unique challenges that make it hard to deliver a high-quality education.” The Wall Street Journal quotes ERS’ own Joseph Trawick-Smith in this recent piece about the difficult-to-sustain dynamic for urban school districts caused by plummeting enrollment: too many schools for too few students. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/exnj3vBM #EdChat #K12 #SchoolLeaders
As residents continue to leave Chicago, echoing the conditions that sparked the 2013 school closures, those of us who were deeply engaged in that movement feel a profound sense of déjà vu. The convergence of a budget shortfall and a dwindling population of families with children mirrors the circumstances of the past closures. This recurrence evokes concern within our community. Despite assurances from CPS officials that they aim to avoid school closures, many of us fear it's inevitable. Our neighborhoods have long suffered from disinvestment, leading to the departure of black residents. This issue transcends the realm of education; it's a community-wide concern. We urgently need improvements in employment opportunities, businesses, and safety measures.
Director of Government Relations @ Youth Connection Charter School | Direct Lobbying, Community Development
As a leader in community engagement and government affairs, I was involved in many battles. One of the most challenging was the initiative to close schools in Chicago Public Schools. Sadly, it was a winless battle for both sides in the City of Chicago. As a Chicagoan, your heart was in that fight, but no one won. I visited all schools across our district and met with Chicago Teachers Union Parents, educational stakeholders, and elected officials. Despite this, the Community Action Councils were tested on their commitment to the neighborhood and saving schools. But from their efforts, schools were improved and saved. I witnessed school officials returning to the community for more meetings to hear the community's needs and school board members out at 10:00 p.m. Their vote and hearing from stakeholders were crucial in meeting and engaging with the community. It's been ten years, and I see a cycle recurring in school engagement today. Watching this documentary brought back memories, and in the upcoming weeks, I will give my engagement experience for this time in history. #communityneversleeps
We’ve fallen into the trap of thinking about public schools as a them issue, when it’s really an us issue. The debate has become whether to support public schools or some alternative. But that’s a false choice. Because no matter what type of education makes sense for your family, thriving public schools lift us all. Learn more about why #publiceducationmatters at https://lnkd.in/eWRecrBs
Come join KU Criminal Justice for our 3rd Speakers Series Event! Open to everyone! See below for details and link!
John Calvert, director of Safe and Secure Schools for the Kansas Department of Education, and Heather Calvert, principal of Grant Elementary in the KCK Public School District, will lead an informative discussion on school shootings, safety measures, and effective administration strategies. The event is free and is open to students, faculty, staff, and the public. Reservations are requested. Register today: https://hubs.la/Q02BxcNL0 Date: Sept 17, 2024 Time: 1-3:30 p.m. Location: Regnier Hall Auditorium, 12610 Quivira, Overland Park, Kansas 66213
REMEMBER PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE 1950s AND 1960s? Remember when public schools were segregated, when whites fled to the suburbs? Remember the 1970s when the Department of Education came into being with a mandate to make sure that education was equal and accessible for all? But what about education's future should Republicans win in 2024 and implement Project 2025 plans for education. Do you know what Republican plans are for educating America's youth? https://lnkd.in/gzq2PaGd
The progress that has been made over the course of the last few years has been nothing short of incredible and it's thanks to this partnership between O-A-K and Godfrey-Lee. Check out some of these really neat spaces that students get to be in every day. #construction #education #constructionindustry #renovation #highschool #learning
Following a structural failure in 2019, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools began the process of rebuilding their 100-plus-year-old high school. Lee High School now features 21st-century classrooms, a state-of-the-art media center, flex spaces, and a new band room.
This is one of the best discussions of the impact of declining enrollment on schools I've seen lately, and it does a good job of balancing the pros for student experience when schools are smaller with the fiscal realities of an enrollment-based funding system. But one factor often goes ignored in these discussions: as enrollment declines, we have more English learners and students with disabilities. Weighted student formulas should offset this, but does the math really math when you need a certain number of set positions to have a functioning school? Particularly when you need social workers, hard-to-staff teachers, and occupational therapists?
New story with Sara Randazzo: Many American school systems are struggling with the exact same problem: too many schools and not enough students. But closing schools is educationally and politically fraught. https://lnkd.in/exGeyFPt
Procurement Manager | Radio Station Operator and Radio Host | Greyhound Adopter | Financial Planning Enthusiast
Maybe America has too many of the "wrong" types of schools. Instead of indoctrinating students, maybe more schools should go back to focusing on delivering tangible vocational skills that can lead to a certificate in a trade and immediately gain employment afterwards. The shift from vocational education to a college based one was short-sighted and a huge mistake. Yes, manufacturing went overseas in the 80s; however, there was still a need for many vocations. Instead, the shift to promoting a 4 year degree for everyone resulted in administrative bloat at colleges. Administrator employment greatly outpaced faculty growth and student enrollment. As always, it was all about the money. The good news is that more young people are seeing through the charade and are choosing to save money and learn a trade. This new shift should have a ripple effect and bring back the vocational education platform that is sorely needed. This, in turn, will help urban youth gain skills, meaningful employment, and solid compensation. #education #trades #vocationalschool #schools
New story with Sara Randazzo: Many American school systems are struggling with the exact same problem: too many schools and not enough students. But closing schools is educationally and politically fraught. https://lnkd.in/exGeyFPt
Lynwood Superintendent Gudiel Crosthwaite calls on our state leadership to fundamentally change how school facilities are funded so that all students have access to the facilities they need and deserve to focus on their education. Learn more: 👇 California students urgently need school facility funding from the state to modernize outdated and unsafe facilities. We must pass an education bond this year because there are billions of dollars in unmet needs. In moving forward with a much-needed education bond, however, it is crucial that our state legislature and the Newsom administration first fix the inequitable and unconstitutional system of school facility financing in California. Currently, low-wealth districts receive substantially less state facility funding per student compared to their higher wealth counterparts—even though they have greater modernization needs from compounded disinvestment from the state, and less ability to raise local funds. Through this system, wealthy school districts can build theaters and STEM labs and pools. But low-wealth neighborhoods, who have been historically ignored and underinvested in—who need more funds to meet the needs of their students—are stuck using what funds they have to repair HVAC systems and maintain the conditions of their existing buildings. The result is an unequal and unconstitutional system in which students in low-wealth districts receive an education inferior to that of their peers in higher-wealth districts. Join Public Advocates and impacted students, families, educators, and grassroots community organizations across the state who are urging for an equitable education bond by signing onto our petition: https://lnkd.in/gHnezfTr