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Contact: Deniece Conway Phone: 336-373-4501 A meeting to discuss the Florida Street Extension Study takes place from 5:30-7:30 pm, Monday, May 21, at Barber Park's Simkins...

Contact: Reginald Foust Phone: 336-373-3026 Beginning at 6 am Saturday, May 19, various lanes of High Point Road between Patterson and Ellington streets will again be...

Contact: Susan Danielsen Phone: 336-451-5715 During its annual Police and Citizens Appreciation Dinner May 17, the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) and Guilford Merchants...

Contact: Brian Johnson Phone: 336-373-2926 The Greensboro Public Library, Guilford County EMS and Greensboro Fire Department have teamed up to offer Safekeepers, a free safety awareness...

Contact: Jake Keys Phone: 336-545-1875 The new after-hours parking meters are now in effect for the four City-owned parking decks in the Central Business District: Bellemeade Street Deck,...

Contact: Reginald Foust Phone: 336-373-3026 Beginning at 9 pm Thursday, May 17, various lanes of High Point Road between Patterson and Ellington streets will be closed due...

Recently during National Charter School Week, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools invited teachers, leaders, parents and advocates from all parts of the country to tell why they are a part of the charter schools movement. PEFNC’s Parent Liaison Initiative Coordinator Kwan Graham shared why this topic is personal for her and what prompted her to get involved in the movement.

 

As a mom of two boys, I see the distinct differences in their personalities and learning styles. I began looking for schools that could meet both their academic needs while respecting their differences. I found my solution in the charter school philosophy.

Being a supporter of the charter school movement is very important to me. I believe that charter schools are a vehicle to educational reform. Charter schools are very unique in looking at a child’s academic and social needs, and then meeting those needs through a rigorous curriculum and a diverse set of programs and activities.

Educating parents on the benefits of charter schools is now a personal goal. I feel that parents are a child’s first and most important advocate. Empowering parents with the tools they need to make an informed decision on which path is best for their child is essential to the charter school movement. Charter schools are an option for parents that enhance and challenge a child’s educational experience.

Through my work as the Parent Liaison Coordinator with Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, I am able to provide new ways for parents to become more actively engaged in their children’s education. In order for parents to truly exercise parental school choice and become stronger advocates for their children, they must understand how the school system works. Also, being on the NC Public Charter School Advisory Council, which is a 15-member council that recommends to the State Board of Education public charter school policies, approval, rejection, or revocations of public charters, I have the opportunity to serve the parents and children of North Carolina.

 

The blog entry is available here. We also recommend adding the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools to your bookmarks and using them as a resource for national public charter school news and information.

Contact: Donnie Turlington Phone: 336-373-3769 During tonight’s City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Denise Turner Roth presented a $449 million recommended budget...

Contact: Donnie Turlington Phone: 336-373-3769 During tonight’s City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Denise Turner Roth presented a $449 million recommended budget...

Contact: Marya Lehmann Phone: 336-375-2234 Smith Senior Center hosts an American Association of Retired People (AARP) Safe Driving class for seniors ages 55 years and older from...

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley joined the state’s education superintendent yesterday to sign a bill that expands public charter schools across South Carolina.

The bill allows boys-only and girls-only public charter schools and requires traditional public schools to allow students who want to do extracurricular activities not offered by their charter school to participate. Universities can also now sponsor public charter schools.

Currently 17,000 students attend South Carolina’s 47 public charter schools.

“We will no longer settle for what we think education has to be,” said Haley at the signing. “We will start to lead in all the country on what education should be. And that is options. That is innovation. That is creativity and that is putting the child and the teacher first.”

Read more here. What are your thoughts on this measure?

Contact: Jake Keys Phone: 336-373-2105 City offices are closed on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. The following services and facilities will operate on a holiday...

Contact: Madeleine Carey Phone: 336-373-3816 The 15th annual National Trails Day takes place from 9 am to 12 noon Saturday, June 2, at Bur-Mil Park, rain or shine....

Contact: Weesie Person Phone: 336-373-3268 Beginning June 18 and continuing until August 3, Greensboro Parks and Recreation will operate free summer neighborhood playground...

The next Greensboro City Council meeting is Tuesday, May 15, beginning at 5:30 pm in the Council Chamber of Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St. Council meetings are open to the public. Free parking is available in the Greene Street Parking Deck after 5 pm. Council meetings...

Governor Perdue unveiled a $20.9 billion budget proposal today that includes a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase and a 1.8 percent average salary increase for teachers and state employees. The plan adjusts the second year of a two-year budget the Legislature approved in 2011.

The budget proposal also includes the following:

• $503 million to reverse flex cuts to public schools
• $92 million to reduce class size in kindergarten through third grade
• $10 million for hand-held reading diagnostic tools

For the full budget proposal, please click here.

Contact: Donnie Turlington Phone: 336-373-3769 The City of Greensboro has terminated the employment of Director of Parks and Recreation Greg Jackson. Interim City Manager Denise...

A proposed measure in South Carolina that would offer tax credit funded scholarships to children from working class families to send their children to private schools moved out of a Senate subcommittee yesterday. It now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for further debate and evaluation.

The bill mirrors similar programs already operating in Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.

Kathy Lord, a former public school teacher who homeschools her children shared her thoughts on the measure. “Even the so-called best public or private school may not be the best match for each student seated in it,” said Lord. “Parents are the best ones to make that call, and this program lets them keep a tiny portion of their own [tax] money to do just that.”

Read more about this here. Do you think this type of proposal will work to offer parents more options in their child’s education? Leave us a comment.

Contact: Mike Strader Phone: 336-430-0779 Starting at 8 am Monday, May 14, Randolph Avenue will be closed between Florida and Glover streets due to a water valve...

Contact: Jennifer Hance Phone: 336-373-2549 The OPUS Concert Series presents the Greensboro Percussion Ensembles at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 18, at First Presbyterian Church, 617...