COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The U.S. Department of Education was in Columbus on Friday, Jan. 29 to announce it is giving states money to improve the nation's lowest performing schools.
Ohio is eligible for $152 million of the $3.5 billion.
In order for schools to get the money, they would have to choose one of four plans:
- The "turnaround" model which would require firing the principal and rehiring no more than 50 percent of the staff.
- The "restart" model would entail converting a school, or reopening it as a charter.
- The "school closure" model would mean a school would close and students would be enrolled in higher achieving schools.
- The "transformation" model would implement each of the following strategies: (1) replace the principal and take steps to increase teacher and school leader effectiveness; (2) institute comprehensive instructional reforms; (3) increase learning time and create community-oriented schools; and (4) provide operational flexibility and sustained support.
