Linik was chosen by the management team for her persistence in promoting and exposing students to foreign language. She is highly involved with the Ohio Foreign Language Association. She also hosted the first-ever VCS student teacher.

For the rest of the article, go to Linik earns teaching award

The Associated Press reports that more than 200,000 kindergarten to 12th grade students are enrolled in full-time “virtual charter schools” in at least 40 states. That number soars to two million schoolchildren nationwide when one takes into account students who are enrolled in at least one course.

For the rest of the article, go to Why Is Public Education Being Outsourced to Online Charter Schools?

Although mom Rachel Barrington teaches English as a Second Language in Talawanda, she takes her daughter Grace to a Hamilton elementary every day, taking advantage of Ohio’s open enrollment.

“We’ve always just been more involved in the Hamilton community,” Barrington said. “So when Hamilton started offering open enrollment five years ago, we moved over.” The other Barrington daughter, Claire, went to Monroe Elementary prior to the opening of Ridgeway and stayed in Hamilton schools up through the seventh grade, but now a freshman, she does her school work through the on-line Ohio Virtual Academy.

For the rest of the article, go to Open enrollment hurts some schools in funding

Winners of the speech contest are: kindergarten through second grade, Wayne Lindsay III, Taft Elementary School; third through fifth grade, Rebekka Twine, Ohio Virtual Academy; sixth through eighth grade, Kennedy Kelly, Pleasant Middle School.

Winners of the essay contest are Hannah Howell, River Valley Middle School; Kennedy Kelly, Pleasant Middle School; Madison Maynard, Benjamin Harrison Elementary School.

For the rest of the article, of the article, go to King contest winners announced

http://bestonlinehighschools.com/directory/property/online-high-schools/ohio-virtual-academy/

We adults talk frequently about education reform that is tied to new technology, virtual classes, teacher effectiveness, and individualized student learning. I think we overlook the importance of culture. Working to establish a school culture that emulates the best practices found in highly functional work environments can lead to students acquiring valuable skills. I have seen school cultures that encourage and foster creativity, productivity, collaboration and personal responsibility. Building a culture that empowers students leads them not only to feel responsible for themselves, but also to develop awareness and care for other students in their school, and frequently to have an affinity for students well beyond their local community.

The board meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Monroe Public School’s administration building, but due to other agenda items, discussion about the schools is not expected to take place until 7:30 p.m., at the earliest.

For the rest of the article, go to Monroe board weighs fate of 2 former schools

But most of the state’s rapidly growing virtual charter schools remain majority-white. Seventy-seven percent of students enrolled in the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow are white, compared with 82 percent five years ago. More black and Latino students have enrolled in eCOT, which with roughly 15,000 students is the state’s largest e-school.

Several bricks-and-mortar charter schools also are majority-white, including Oakstone Community School for students with autism and Asperger’s syndrome, where 83 percent of students are white.

Some newer, larger charter schools, such as Groveport Community School, might be aiding overall diversity for the county’s charters. The roughly 1,000-student school opened in 2008, and 45 percent of its students are white.

For the rest of the article, go to More whites drawn to charter schools

Bay Haven Charter Academy Inc. submitted an application for two virtual schools. The board decided to postpone their vote until the December 13th school board meeting.

For the rest of the article, go to Charter School Applications Approved

Paul Ramsey, Cleveland Schools’ energy education specialist, was presented the Pacesetter award from Energy Educators. Garrett Self, a consultant with the company, presented the award. Mr. Self said, “This is a very distinguished award.” He said Mr. Ramsey is a “living, breathing example and is leading the way for others.”

Mr. Ramsey has saved the system over $1 million in 28 months. When he accepted the award, Mr. Ramsey said, “This is a team effort. I would like to thank the maintenance department, kitchen staff, faculty and janitorial staff.”

Jim David, seventh-grade teacher, and Sandy Farlow, eighth-grade teacher, have been teaching in a virtual learning classroom. The pair say they are able to really dig into the textbooks and give direct instruction with the students following one set of rules and expectations. They say with the smaller learning environment the students are building confidence.

The two Cleveland Middle School teachers will present their paperless classroom to the Tennessee School Board’s annual meeting attendees over the weekend.

For the rest of the article, go to Plans To Be Drawn For Betsy Vines Little Theatre At Cleveland High; “Paperless Classroom” Working Well

But many local charter students are among the more than 30,000 statewide who attend school by computer through the major online charters — Alternative Education Academy (also known as OHDELA), Buckeye Online School for Success, Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, Ohio Connections Academy, Ohio Virtual Academy, Treca Digital Academy and Virtual Community School of Ohio.

Some districts have set up their own charter schools, which can operate online, such as in Akron and Lorain, or in classrooms, such as in Lakewood.

For the rest of the article, go to The complex landscape of Ohio charter schools