CNN recently featured an article on the changes and improvements being made to the Cleveland public school system.

"Within the past year," CNN reports, "the school system has undergone a comprehensive and sometimes harsh reorganization..."

The school system closed 16 schools last year. The federal government's School Improvement Grants are helping 12 Cleveland schools to restart.
 
"In 2010, the federal government provided $546 million for about 1,000 low-achieving schools across the United States. Districts could use the money to reorganize or close down schools completely. In Cleveland, school officials chose to use a reorganization model for several of their schools, including Lincoln-West and Glenville high schools. To receive the funds, they had to replace the principal and rehire no more than half the school's staff."

And progress is being reported.

Since the reorganization, school officials have reported less violence and better attendance rates. Irene Javier, a principal at Lincoln-West, says, "We actually have an 83% decline in terms of serious incidents that are happening in the building. That includes number of suspensions. So, it directly impacts our attendance."

Academic numbers have yet to be analyzed, but officials at both Lincoln-West and Glenville report that the reorganization is having a positive impact.

Read the rest of the report here.