Officials have required a dress code in some schools, the board meetings are less argumentative and the district's new CEO named six regional superintendents. Second-grade teacher Kristyn Warren said she isn't affected by who or what governs Cleveland Public Schools. It's up to me to perform. The state started subsidizing the transfer of students from public to private schools in Milwaukee in 1990. Last fall, after a court fight, the so-called state vouchers could be redeemed at religious schools.
Studies show parents of students using the vouchers are happy with the system.
But analyses of test scores are inconclusive. Maryland seized some of the mayor's authority over Baltimore schools and created a city-state partnership. Initial reforms aimed at cutting class size and tutoring for low-achieving students. Test scores have seen a small gain but student achievement in Baltimore still falls well short of state averages. The increase may be nothing more than the effect of attention, said Laura Weeldreyer, education director for Advocates for Children and Youth in Baltimore.