Birmingham Schools Host Charter School Forums
Alabama may very well have its first-ever charter schools next year. The approval process, which has already hit snags in other parts of the state, will go through a state commission or through local school boards that have elected to become authorizers. Birmingham City Schools is one of just two authorizers in the state, and last night, school leaders held the second of two meetings to explain exactly what that means. Birmingham Superintendent Kelley Castlin-Gacutan told more than 100 people at Parker High School that “we have the authority to first approve or deny any interested party.”
Being an authorizer, or, as many called it, “having a seat at that table,” does not guarantee the district will approve charter schools. Even so, the meeting brought out several speakers who worried charters would siphon money and good students from traditional schools. But parent Jewel Taylor thinks charter schools would be good for Birmingham, as long as city school leaders keep communicating about them.
“I think some people came with a preconceived notion that all Birmingham City Schools are going to be charter schools,” she said. “This is not about all city schools being charter schools. This is about us raising our hands in Birmingham City and saying we would like to [be in position to] authorize those schools.”
A district spokesperson says the school system is still ironing out criteria for charter school applications, and that would-be charter school operators will have 30 days to apply once those are released.
Taiwan votes to decide whether to oust lawmakers from China-friendly party
Taiwanese were voting Saturday to determine whether to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, in elections that could potentially reshape the power balance in the self-ruled island's legislature.
Has the Billboard Hot 100 caught the Holy Ghost?
Brittany dives into the economy behind Christian contemporary music
Arizona woman to serve 8 years for identity theft scheme benefiting North Korea
Christina Chapman was sentenced to prison this week for her role in a scheme that the DOJ said used stolen American identities in order to help illegally employ North Koreans in U.S. companies.
Lawmakers seek to ban federal agents from wearing masks
ICE says its employees have good reasons to hide their faces from protesters who want to dox them online, but Democrats say masked federal agents evokes "secret police," and the practice should be banned.
Independent grocery stores have had a tough five years. SNAP cuts will make it harder
The bulk of sales for many independent grocers come from SNAP. Cuts to the program could leave some making hard decisions about their future.
Education Department says it’s releasing more than $5 billion in frozen grants
The grants fund a wide range of education programs, including migrant education, services for English language learners and adult education.