EDceptional.org

Dear Friends,

Rochester charter schools are looking forward to a successful 2023-24 academic year. While we await final enrollment numbers, preliminary reports show that GoodSchoolsRoc has received nearly 18% more applications this year over last year.

Schools continue to grow as demand rises. Innova Girls Academy opened its doors for the first time this fall, offering K-2 and expanding year-by-year to grade 6. Several schools have added classrooms or grade levels, increasing the number of seats available for students to enroll.

This year, charter schools had openings for nearly 1,000 kindergarteners. In 2022-23, more than 8,000 students enrolled in Rochester charter schools, representing 26% of all district students.

EDceptional: Our Plan

Two months after the announcement of our refocused strategic direction, EDceptional is working to improve the quality of school offerings. Our first-year initiatives include an emphasis on three pillars to building a great school: school culture, strong board leadership and support for school management teams to achieve high performance. Through targeted efforts and partnerships with schools, our work is concentrated on leadership development and academic improvement.

As a Charter School Support Organization, we’re working with schools to identify their needs and connect them with expert resources. In recent months we’ve invested in the following ways to strengthen the sector and support schools:

Hosted meetings of board members and school leaders from all the charter schools to discuss needs, aspirations and share best practices
Engaged the services of a nationally recognized literacy coach to address areas of improvement in reading and writing
Hosted a two-day seminar to coach teachers on classroom management and provide feedback aimed at improved instruction
Engaged outside expert support to assist one school with a full assessment and the development of a guide map for improvement
Recruited charter school board members and provided initial training resources
Organized a contingent of school leaders and board chairs to travel to Indianapolis to gain insights from high-performing schools and meet with key individuals at The Mind Trust, a highly-regarded and effective charter school support organization
Invested in leadership training opportunities and identified executive coaches for school leaders

We invite you to review our three-year plan, beginning with 2023: Build a Foundation at edceptional.org/about.

Tune in to WDKX

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., CEO Sebrone O. Johnson, along with Dr. Paul Miller, CEO of Charter Champions, host “Move the Needle,” a discussion of education topics in Rochester. Recent subjects have included “what is a charter school” and debunking myths.

Listen live or find the podcast recording at wdkx.com/podcasts.

Charter School Highlights

Academy of Health Sciences (AHS) celebrated the opening of its new location with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Located on Ridgeway Avenue, the building is a former bowling alley that has been converted to a state-of-the-art educational institution. AHS prepares middle school students for college and a career in the health sciences field. Learn more from Channel 10’s news coverage at Academy of Health Sciences Charter School cuts ribbon on new building - WHEC.com.

Vertus High School and Renaissance Academy were both featured in local news stories about the back-to-school season. Watch Vertus High School begins the school year early (rochesterfirst.com) and It's back to school at Renaissance Academy - WHEC.com.

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