Education

School administrators often complain that they lack flexibility when it comes to improving their schools academically. In response, state education officials created the Restart program two years ago to help struggling schools. The program gives those schools a say in spending state funds, on calendar schedules and hiring flexibility—similar to charter schools. There are more than 100 Restart schools statewide.

For about three decades, beginning in the 1970s, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was a national leader when it came to integration. Now, CMS is the most racially and economically segregated school district in the state, according to a new report. It found that the number of racially and economically segregated schools statewide increased from nearly 300 in 2006 to close to 500 last year.

CMS released a report last month showing that huge achievement gaps exist in district schools along racial and economic lines. School officials are asking for public input on how to narrow this gap as they set goals for the next six years. They are holding a series of meetings with the first one held today.

Students at many schools throughout the Charlotte region plan to observe the 17-minute National School Walkout Day in a variety of ways Wednesday. The event, scheduled for 10 a.m. at many schools, will honor the 17 people gunned down at a high school in Parkland, Florida, last month and focus attention on school safety.

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or CIAA, men’s and women’s basketball tournament is in full swing with more than 100,000 people expected to pour into the city for the event.

Figuring out what is the best time for schools to open is something parents and schools officials don’t always agree on. Many studies show that later school start times have many benefits including better student performance in the classroom, lower absenteeism rates, improved mental health and fewer auto accidents for older students.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools report released Friday shows that not all students are receiving the same quality education. It quantified the disparities in terms of school attendance, access to effective teachers and participation in academically rigorous courses.