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April 2005: Alternative Schools for Overage Students


April 2005: Alternative Schools for Overage Students Download Issue in PDF Format
In an attempt to stem the tide of dropouts, the district opened two option schools five years ago. The goal: to help students in their mid-teens who were still in 6th, 7th or 8th grade catch up quickly and move on to high school. Today, the schools have been merged into the Option School Complex at Margaret A. Ireland. There is a growing trend across the country to find alternative settings for troubled students. But data measuring their effectiveness are scant.

Cover Stories
Special school still unproven Margaret A. Ireland's student-tailored lessons and menu of social services attempt to prevent over-age students still in middle grades from dropping out.

A 16-year-old blossoms in 'one big, loving house' From F's and chronic fighting to A's, a job and hopes of going to college, one student found the academic and emotional support he needed to succeed.

Those who find success want to stay for high school In hopes of avoiding old ways that caused them to fall behind in the first place, students ask to stay on at option school for upper grades.

Letter From the Editor
Student voices pierce the funding drone In February, I tuned out early as Gov. Bob Taft announced his plan for education spending over the next two years.

Catalyst Crib Sheets
6ht & St. Clair TAFT CALLS FOR VOUCHER EXPANSION

Follow Up
Taft budget bad news for most districts Dodging key recommendations of the task force he assigned to reform the state's school finance system, Gov. Bob Taft proposed an education budget that likely means many school districts will continue asking voters for more money.

Research Stories
‘Teacher credentials have no impact’ Teachers’ education and experience make little difference in students’ math scores, according to a recent study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Horizons
Does hip-hop music help or hurt students' attitudes toward education? Teaching media literacy skills is key to helping kids filter out negative messages
in popular rap music.

The rap on rap Harvard researcher sees correlation between drop in reading scores and the rise of hip-hop music.

Hip Hop 1-2-3: using Tupac to teach Chaucer University of California urban education scholar brings hip hop to the classroom to boost academic achievement in writing.

Q & A With
Lois Hagood Lois Hagood, tutor in reading and writing at Moses Cleaveland K-5 School

Viewpoints
Students “Slam” school funding locally for the chance to be heard nationally In February, Catalyst sponsored a poetry slam for Cleveland Municipal School District students, inviting them to write about Ohio's school funding system