State School Superintendent Dr. Richard Ross announced that the Cleveland Metropolitan School District will not be subject to an Academic Distress Commission, due in large part to the Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools.
Mayor Frank G. Jackson, who participated in the announcement along with CMSD CEO Eric Gordon, led the effort for the creation of the Cleveland Plan, including passage of House Bill 525 by the State legislature and a successful levy campaign in Cleveland. Mayor Jackson expressed appreciation for the hard work by the coalition of Cleveland Plan supporters and indicated that accountability will be key to the Plan’s success. CEO Gordon indicated that the implementation of the plan is well underway, though much work still needs to be done.
The goals of the Cleveland Plan include increasing graduation rates and college enrollment, building the capacity of quality teachers and administrators, redirecting low-performing schools and partnering with high performing charter schools. These efforts and more will lead to significant improvements in the performance of Cleveland students and the school district as a whole.
