Charles Kerchner, a professor at Claremont Graduate University has posted an interesting take on LAUSD's major reform initiative, Public School Choice, which he likens to a chemistry experiment.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is testing the hypothesis that allowing a bunch of people to compete for running schools will yield better ones. It's a starkly different idea than the traditional civil service model and probably the boldest experiment taking place in public education in America.
Kerchner, an expert on education reform efforts, goes on to ask how successful it's been so far. For one thing, he notes that the district has seen mixed results in getting outside groups to apply for control of schools.
Public School Choice, which was approved by the board in August, let outside groups bit to take over 12 troubled "focus schools" and 18 new campuses that will open in fall. Our local schools, San Pedro High and Gardena High, generated no outside interest. Teams at both campuses created internal reform proposals.
Next month, the Board of Education will vote on the plans, after a review at Beaudry.
You can read today about plans at Pedro. On Monday, the Breeze ran my story about Gardena's plan. Pretty different situations at those two schools.
For a look at what's happening at schools that did get outside bids, check out this L.A. Times story.
Anyway, Kerchner's take, definitely from an academic perspective, is interesting. He notes the "schizophrenic relationship" that United Teaches Los Angeles has had to the whole process. Worth a read.
If you're a parent at one of these schools or their feeder campuses, or you're a Gardena or Pedro student or a staff member, you can vote on the plans Tuesday and next Saturday. Voting info is on both Breeze stories.
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