The Daily Report Card: New Charters, Reform Strategies, And Voucher Schools

In The Classroom Today

Six New Charter Schools Approved in Indiana | Indy’s News Center – 93.1 WIBC Indianapolis – Live. Local. First. The Indiana Charter School Board approved six charter applications out of the nine they considered during the Fall Term. Four of those schools will be in Indianapolis, with others planned for Anderson and Fort Wayne. One of the schools planned for Indianapolis is Carpe Diem Collegiate High Schools, which will be operated by Carpe Diem schools, based in Yuma, Arizona. Rick Ogston, the CEO of Carpe Diem Schools, says they chose Indianapolis because the state is charter-friendly. Ogston also says Indianapolis has a large number of parents interested in alternatives to traditional schools as they seek a quality education for their children. (ibc.com)

Reform plan offers unproven strategies | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com The Star reported on Dec. 18 about The Mind Trust’s report, “Creating Opportunity Schools: A Bold Plan to Transform IPS.” This document was developed by a North Carolina-based consulting firm that “borrowed heavily” from ideas pioneered in at least two other states (New York and Louisiana). The plan took a year and a half to create at a cost of $700,000, the bulk of which was paid by the Indiana taxpayer. (Indianapolis Star)

Some worry Indiana’s private school voucher program might cause education disruptions – chicagotribune.com Private schools in Indiana that saw a jump in enrollment this year because of the state’s new voucher law could be seeing some students leave for the same reason. That’s because a provision that requires private school students whose families want to receive vouchers must first attend public school for a year. Private school officials say they’re hearing some parents are at least considering having their children go to public school, then transfer back. (chicagotribune.com)