Hillary Flynn

New York

Education Lab Editor @postandcourier. Previously @columbiajourn, @thomsonreuters, and @politico. Can be bribed with coffee. Tips: [email protected]

Articles

Kiawah and Seabrook islands offer an escape from the bigger city bustle

Jul 27, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

Just 25 miles from downtown Charleston, Kiawah and Seabrook islands are the destinations for anyone looking to escape the bustle of the city. These islands offer so much more than beautiful beaches. They have sports, spas, top restaurants and amazing shopping. We’ve compiled a guide for tourists and locals drawn to the islands’ natural beauty. Whether you like fine dining or a relaxed day on the golf course or the beach, we have a guide for you.
SC schools aren't toppling off funding cliff, but expiring federal cash will mean cuts

Jul 6, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Ian Grenier |Valerie Nava |G.E. Hinson |Hillary Flynn

South Carolina schools received more than $3.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds since 2020 to help contend with the pandemic’s impact. Districts across the state and nation tapped the funds to pay for tutoring, summer camps, air filtration systems and salaries, among other needs. In all, the federal government showered $190 billion on America’s schools through three waves of funding known as ESSER, short for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund.
South Carolina implements one of most restrictive censorships on school libraries in US

Jun 25, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

A South Carolina law that could severely censor books in school libraries and classrooms went into effect on June 25. The law prevents schools from providing students with books and materials that are not "age and developmentally appropriate." Critics say this language is so it can be used to remove books from diverse voices and ones that have LGBTQ stories from schools.
Oceanside Collegiate Academy will not close, district votes

Jun 5, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

Oceanside Collegiate Academy's school district reversed its decision to close the charter school during a June 5 board meeting. Steven Adamson, board chair of the Charter Institute at Erskine, the district that oversees Oceanside, said the Institute met with Oceanside's board late in the evening on June 4 and resolved their differences. Oceanside agreed to comply with the Institute's corrective action plan by undergoing an audit.
Some SC charter districts get millions to keep struggling schools afloat

May 30, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn |Maura Turcotte |David Sheingold

This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University | Medill. Charter schools were meant to fix South Carolina’s historically troubled education system. But some have been cited for fraud, misappropriating public funds, manipulating grades and violating their neediest students’ rights.
Charter Institute at Erskine falls short of other school groups in some benchmark subjects

May 30, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn |Maura Turcotte |David Sheingold

This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University | MedillThe Charter Institute at Erskine’s schools underperformed in elementary and middle school math compared to other groups of South Carolina schools, according to a Post and Courier analysis of S.C. Department of Education data.
Oceanside Collegiate Academy potential transfer stuck in legal gray area

May 22, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

Oceanside Collegiate Academy's board told parents for weeks it is transferring to a new authorizer on July 1, but charter school experts and lawyers are skeptical about the school's ability to legally do so.
Oceanside Collegiate Academy was ordered to close. Here's where it stands

May 21, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant is fighting back against its authorizer's notice that it plans to close the school. It requested that its authorizer, the Charter Institute at Erskine, hold an appeal hearing where school representatives will argue against its shutdown. The hearing will take place on June 5 at 10:30 a.m."The meeting will be hosted virtually.
Oceanside Collegiate Academy was ordered to close. Here's where it stands.

May 20, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Hillary Flynn

Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant is fighting back against its authorizer's notice that it plans to close the school. The academy has requested that its authorizer, the Charter Institute at Erskine, hold an appeal hearing so that school representatives can argue against its shutdown. The hearing will take place June 5 at 10:30 a.m."The meeting will be hosted virtually.
CCSD board members might eliminate a public meeting. Here's why.

May 14, 2024 | postandcourier.com | Valerie Nava |Hillary Flynn

Three Charleston County School Board members raised the possibility of eliminating their monthly committee of the whole meetings, causing several of their colleagues to voice concerns about the board's lack of transparency. Board members Leah Whatley, Keith Grybowski and Ed Kelley said they wanted to discuss replacing the meetings with more frequent small sessions focused on specific topics.