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Charters & Choice

A woman in a white business suit gestures as she speaks into a microphone in a legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Knox County would join Hamilton in latest Tennessee school voucher expansion proposal
A proposal to take vouchers statewide is also on the table, but unlikely to get a vote this year.
By Marta W. Aldrich
Students hold up signs in front of a brick building
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia School Enrollment
Philadelphia schools chief announces changes to high school admissions after enrollment protests
Critics of the district’s lottery system had said it would lead to enrollment declines and staff cuts at certain high schools.
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
A Native American student stands at a podium, addressing the school board. His mother and grandmother stand on either side of him. All are wearing traditional dress. His mother and grandmother have red painted handprints over their mouths.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charters & Choice
American Indian Academy of Denver will be the fourth Denver middle school to close this spring
The 3-year-old charter school cited low enrollment and high costs as the reasons for the closure in a resolution passed by its board of directors.
By Melanie Asmar
 
desk with pencil
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Indiana parents, education advocates split over school choice budget increases
Lawmakers are considering a plan to dramatically increase spending on the state’s voucher program.
By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
 
The front of a tan brick building housing Edison School of the Arts rises behind some shrubbery and a patio, against a blue sky.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Edison School of the Arts board terminates Executive Director Nathan Tuttle
The autonomous Innovation school withdrew its plan to expand to James Whitcomb Riley School 43 next school year.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
An overhead view of the NY Assembly room with red carpets and rows of yellow chairs
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
New York lawmakers reject Gov. Hochul’s charter school proposal
Both the state Senate and Assembly called to remove Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow New York City to open more than 100 new charter schools.
By Reema Amin and Alex Zimmerman
 
NYC middle schools reopened on Thursday, Feb. 25. Students at M.S. 51 in Park Slope, Brooklyn streamed into the building, socially distanced and masked.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
NYC’s eighth graders receive high school admissions offers 3 months earlier
Thursday’s notifications arrived three months earlier than they did last year, as part of a series of reforms under schools Chancellor David Banks meant to simplify the process and tighten access to some coveted selective schools.
By Michael Elsen-Rooney
 
A child in a yellow shirt stands in an aisle during a public meeting. He holds a phone to take a picture or record or a video.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Stalled tax plan to revive Indianapolis Public Schools pushes charters and district further apart
Legislation at the statehouse could deepen the divide between Indianapolis Public Schools and charters.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A woman in a red shirt at a podium addresses a row of people sitting behind a table in a school cafeteria. In the foreground are other people sitting and listening to her comments.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Edison School of the Arts staff, students call for resignation of executive director
Parents, students and staff allege a toxic environment at Edison School of the Arts and call on the school’s board to make changes.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A teacher mentor works with another teacher during an inservice day at Valley View K-8 in 2015.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charter schools
A Denver charter teacher’s push to unionize could change the legal landscape for others
A teacher at KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy is fighting to start what he calls the Colorado Charter Teachers Association.
By Melanie Asmar
 
People work in an ornate legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Voucher and charter-friendly bills pass Tennessee Senate, as House speaker proposes home school charters
The bills would advance Gov. Bill Lee’s school choice agenda
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Eight kids, all wearing masks or face shields, walk in a jumbled line through a carpeted school hallway
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charter schools
Indiana school districts may have to turn over underused buildings to charters. Here’s what to know.
Democrats have tried but failed to tweak the bill, which would make it easier for charter schools to take advantage of the so-called $1 law.
By Aleksandra Appleton and Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
Exterior of The School District of Philadelphia building.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Charter schools
Philadelphia school board rejects applications for four new charter schools
A state senator who claimed the district is freezing out charters got into a heated exchange with the board president.
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
A man wearing glasses, a red tie, and tan suit speaks in front of microphones
From Chalkbeat Indiana Vouchers
Indiana senators not so keen on voucher expansion included in House budget
The proposed voucher expansion accounts for about a third of additional funding that K-12 schools might receive.
By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
 
A large yellow school bus parked outside a building next to green scaffolding.
From Chalkbeat New York Charters & Choice
NYC’s largest charter networks enrolled fewer students this year, complicating push to open new schools
Success Academy, Uncommon Schools, KIPP, and Achievement First all shrank. Still, Gov. Kathy Hochul has pushed to raise the NYC charter cap.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A group of students in hoodies work around a table in a hallway or common area of DSST: Montview in 2017. They appear to be mostly boys and they’re smiling and laughing. Several laptops are open on the table.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charters & Choice
Poll: Majority of Colorado voters support targeted education savings accounts
Education savings accounts are unlikely to get support in the Colorado legislature, but a new poll from Ready Colorado finds public support for accounts that could be used for special education needs.
By Erica Meltzer
 
A school building sits in the background with a sidewalk and rails leading up to it in the foreground.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Indianapolis Public Schools
Attorney general finds Indianapolis Public Schools did not violate $1 law
The Indiana attorney general’s finding is a win for Indianapolis Public Schools. But state lawmakers are considering stiffening the law that forces districts to sell unused buildings to charter operators.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A campaign worker helps walk a man past a sign on an easel on a patio outside a polling station.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Legislation would require Indiana districts to share property tax revenue with charters
Under current state law, charters do not receive a portion of the funding that districts can collect from property taxes
By Aleksandra Appleton and Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
Students wearing coats walk in a line behind a teacher who faces them, in front of a brick school house that houses University Prep in Denver.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charters & Choice
University Prep won a second appeal against Adams 14, but path toward opening remains a question
The State Board of Education granted a second appeal after the district refused to renegotiate the contract.
By Yesenia Robles
 
Ornate public building
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee private school voucher expansion bill clears first legislative hurdle
Sponsors want recently launched pilot program to add Hamilton County Schools
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Sun peeks through a window into an empty classroom with an American flag hanging on the wall in the foreground.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Politics & Policy
Indiana bill would compel school districts to shutter underused buildings, offer them to charters
Schools that don’t comply with the proposed law would face a funding hit.
By Aleksandra Appleton
 
A school building has a blue sign on the top left corner that reads North Star in white lettering with a white star shape between the two words.
From Chalkbeat Newark Charters & Choice
Two Newark charter schools to merge into one K-12, as two others get approval to expand
Achieve Community and People’s Prep charter schools will consolidate for next school year. North Star Academy and LINK Community charter schools can increase enrollment.
By Catherine Carrera
 
A woman stands at a lectern with two other people seated in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Charters & Choice
Hochul’s proposal to lift NYC charter school cap faces uncertain fate in Albany
The proposal could face opposition in a Democratic-controlled legislature.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A group of people sit around three tables in a rectangular shape.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Indianapolis Public Schools tables operating referendum vote amid pushback
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
Woman speaks into table microphone
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Two charter schools in Memphis and Nashville to move to new state-run district
Charter commission district grows with more ASD schools
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A student holds a sign saying “Public space is not for private profit.”
From Chalkbeat New York Charters & Choice
Success Academy school space-sharing proposals put on hold after Queens and Bronx community uproar
New York City’s education department pulled three proposals to co-locate Success Academy elementary schools in shared campuses after locals mounted campaigns to fight the plans.
By Amy Zimmer
 
Students arrive at Escuela Avancemos, a Detroit charter school, on the first day of school in 2019.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Charter schools
What is a Michigan charter school?
Thirty years after the law was passed, the definition remains unclear. Here’s a guide to understanding them better.
By Koby Levin
 
Two men stand at microphones in the Indiana Statehouse.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Indiana lawmakers weigh bill to create universal school choice program
Legislation would make all students eligible for Education Scholarship Accounts, regardless of family income.
By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
 
A fence that says “STRIVE Prep” sits in front of a school building. Snow covers the ground.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charter schools
The Denver school board votes to close a charter school for low test scores
STRIVE Prep - Kepner middle school will close at the end of this school year.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Students walk through the hall at Adams City High School between classes Monday, Feb. 4, 2019.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Adams 14 School District
New Colorado State Board of Education blocks a charter appeal against Adams 14
The new, expanded Colorado State Board of Education voted 5-3.
By Yesenia Robles
 
Men wearing business suits sit at desks in a large assembly hall.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee legislative preview: Key education issues to watch as lawmakers return
Third grade retention policy, private school vouchers, and a teacher shortage are among the priorities
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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