Monday, February 4, 2013

CPS Open Boarders=Option for Norwood Students

Cincinnati Public School(CPS) board voted 4-2 to open its schools to any students that live in Hamilton County.  .

Open enrollment allows students who live in other districts to attend Cincinnati Public Schools without having to pay tuition ($6,632 a year for out-of-district students and $8,266 for out-of-state students.)The district also loses state dollars because of its closed-border system. When a student transfers to a different district, $5,700 in state funding follows him. This year 372 students – and $2 million in state funding – left CPS for districts with open enrollment policies.

This is a challenge for Norwood School District to step up its commitment to serve their students.  We here at Norwood News and Views are excited about this option.  If a parent feels as if Norwood Schools are not fulfilling the needs of their children they have the option of sending them to a CPS school.  While Norwood City Schools are good they lack what minorities students need.  It is just that simple.  Minority students have certain needs and wants that Norwood Schools don't meet. 

Students that are not satisfied with the cirriculum now have a option. Students that have been suspended or expelled have another avenue to get back into school.  This is a win for everyone.  Too many minority students are dropping out of high school for varies of reasons.  One reason is schools in certain districts fail to acknowledge that minority students have different needs. Another reason is Norwood Schools do not deal with  students that  come from different backgrounds and different cultures. These students attitudes toward education is sometime different. Their experiences are different.  Some students will only respond to teachers that look like them. That is a fact, and Norwood Schools do not care about this fact. Maybe when their enrollment decline and students start to take advantage of this option will Norwood Schools start doing the right thing. At  $5,700 per student Norwood News and Views  hope it will start a dialogue with our Superintendent leading the discussion.       

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