Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced Monday in Washington that she will be talking with private contractors about the possibility of having them manage some of the 27 District schools that must undergo “restructuring” under the No Child Left Behind Act due to their poor performance. – Andrew Harnik/Examiner

Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2008-02-26 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee said Monday she will talk with private entities about possibly contracting out management of some of the city’s most troubled public schools.

Although the chancellor has had meetings with individual schools on the subject of private management, Monday’s announcement marked the first time she said outright that she will pursue the option.

Under No Child Left Behind, 27 D.C. schools that have not met federal standards for years must undergo drastic change. Private management is one of a handful of options at Rhee’s disposal, according to the law.

Rhee said the move doesn’t mean she’s ruling out other possibilities, including shifting out entire staffs, but she has a responsibility to begin “in earnest to determine which options make sense.”

“[In these schools] we have not been serving our children. To not look at every single option ... would be a disservice,” she said.

When pressed, Rhee would only specify one company — Mastery Charter Schools, which has been running some Philadelphia schools — even though she said several organizations are being considered.

Previously the chancellor has also mentioned St. HOPE Public Schools, founded by basketball star and Rhee friend Kevin Johnson, and Green Dot Public Schools.

Critics of private management say it adds another level of bureaucracy without increasing accountability.

Parent Cherita Whiting said she’s also extremely concerned about the price tag.

“These groups are not from D.C., they don’t know D.C., yet they’re going to tell us how to run our schools,” she told The Examiner. “And the chancellor won’t produce the 2009 budget to show where the money will come from.”

Rhee said private contracts might mean increased spending. She added, though, that she’s looking into free or low-cost options such as partnering with universities, which could provide expertise in curriculum and development.

The problem with looking to universities to help fix the schools is that the tactic has been tried without success in D.C., according to Mary Levy of the Washington Lawyers Group.

“Generally people or groups with professional expertise might donate very limited, one-time-only services but will not do more without being paid at least enough to cover their costs,” she said in an e-mail.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com