CAROI, which means Cooperative Audit Resolution and Oversight Initiative. It is a federal mediation program run by the U.S. Department of Education used to resolve audit findings.

BCPSS and MSDE (if you don't know what institutions I'm referring to, check out our glossary of educationese, now updated to include CAROI) went through this mediation from 2004 to 2005 to figure out what to do about an audit finding problems with how BCPSS was spending its Title 1 money.

So why am I talking about this today? At tonight's school board meeting, officials are scheduled to announce that the state is permitting the school system to use the $6 million remaining from the CAROI settlement to give extra help to students who have failed one or more of the HSAs. (Title 1 and HSA: also in the glossary.)

Also tonight, the board will hear public comment on a proposed change in policy regarding who gets admission preference to Baltimore's prestigious citywide high schools.