Opinion

Innovative School District: A promising idea for improving schools 

In 2016, the General Assembly passed a bill that created the Achievement School District — later changed to the Innovative School District or ISD — which was tasked to coordinate the transfer of up to five persistently low-performing district schools to a charter school operator. The purpose of the legislation was straightforward — assist district schools that haven’t been able to improve student achievement...

Dr. Terry Stoops
News

State Board of Education OKs Achievement for All Children to operate Southside Ashpole

Despite concerns from a handful of members, the State Board of Education voted April 5 to let Achievement for All Children operate the first Innovative School District school. Seven board members voted for AAC’s involvement, while Eric Davis, Wayne McDevitt, Becky Taylor, and Patricia Willoughby opposed it. Discussions about AAC spanned two days. Robeson County’s...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Head of Innovative School District picks charter operator to run troubled Robeson County school

Southside Ashpole Elementary is one step closer to having an Innovative School District operator. Monday, March 19, ISD Superintendent Eric Hall recommended Achievement for All Children — a charter management organization — to operate the low-performing school during a brief conference call. State Board of Education members will vote on the recommendation at the April...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Innovative School District still without an operator to run Southside Ashpole

Southside Ashpole Elementary will have to wait before learning who will run the school as part of the Innovative School District. ISD Superintendent Eric Hall during the February State Board of Education meeting said neither the Romine Group nor Achievement for All Children met expectations to manage the first ISD school. The decision was based...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Local board approves Southside Ashpole for Innovative School District

The Public Schools of Robeson County voted unanimously Jan. 9 to approve Southside Ashpole Elementary School for transfer to the Innovative School District. Southside Ashpole will contract with a school operator for five years starting in the 2018-19 school year. At the end of the contract, the elementary school will transfer back to the school...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Two education groups in running to manage Southside Ashpole Elementary

Innovative School District Superintendent Eric Hall said Achievement for All Children and the Romine Group are in the running to manage Southside Ashpole Elementary, North Carolina’s first Innovative School District school. SchoolWorks, an independent third-party agency, was hired to evaluate the applicants. Hall made the announcement during the N.C. State Board of Education meeting Dec....

Lindsay Marchello

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News

Robeson County school first to join Innovative School District

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to approve Southside Ashpole Elementary School as the first to join the Innovative School District in 2018-19. The ISD — originally called the Achievement School District — places the lowest-performing schools in the state under management of charter or education organizations for five years. The goal is improving...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Robeson County school recommended for Innovative School District

The Innovative School District plans to recommend Southside Ashpole Elementary in Rowland as the first school to take part in the program, beginning with the 2018-19 school year. Southside Ashpole Elementary was part of an original list of 48 low-performing schools in North Carolina eligible as an ISD. The program aims to give charter school...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Innovative School District shrinks list to four candidates

Four schools remain candidates for the Innovative School District, but that list no longer includes Lakewood Elementary in Durham County and R.B. Dean Elementary in Robeson County. The final four, ISD Superintendent Eric Hall announced during October’s State Board of Education meeting, are: Durham Public Schools: Glenn Elementary Nash-Rocky Mount Schools: Williford Elementary Northampton County...

Lindsay Marchello
News

List of schools eligible for Innovative School District down to six

The list of schools eligible for the Innovative School District program just got a little smaller. Six schools remain as officials led by ISD Superintendent Eric Hall narrowed the list of schools eligible for the new program starting in the 2018-19 school year. Originally called the Achievement School District, the ISD aims to place low-performing...

Lindsay Marchello
News

Plan to implement Innovative School District moves forward 

In September, North Carolinians will know which low-performing elementary schools will be considered for the Innovative School District in 2018 and be turned over to charter school operators. Formerly known as the Achievement School District, the Innovative School District was brought about last year by House Bill 1080, from Rep. Rob Bryan, R-Mecklenburg. It wasn’t until March of this year that the North Carolina State Board of Education hired Eric Hall, the...

Lindsay Marchello
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