DETROIT — Charter public school operators must have a proven track record before they will be allowed to take over a Detroit Public School building, The Detroit News reported.
The district is considering turning over 45 schools to charter operators, The News reported. Among other requirements, applicants must already run a charter school and be able to demonstrate academic achievement and community involvement at their sites, according to The News.
DPS launched the charter conversion plan in hopes of reducing operating costs and improve student achievement, spokesman Steve Wasko told The News. The district wants to have some schools converted by fall and believes that only proven charter school operators could take up the task that quickly, Wasko told The News.
“We know there will be a lot of interest in this. We don't want to waste time shifting through hundreds or thousands of application from bottom feeders or those with no experience,” Wasko said.
Applications are due May 2. Each school will have its own school board, which creates a need for hundreds of board members, The News reported.
SOURCE:
The Detroit News, “Charter
school operators seeking DPS building must pass requirements,” April 7,
2011
FURTHER READING:
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, “Detroit Public Schools Students Bear the
Pain of Limited Educational Opportunities,” Sept. 10, 2010
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.