D.C. Public School Seeks Linkup With New Charter

"We want to fully embrace a working relationship with KIPP, but we don't want to do it to the detriment of our student body and financial viability," she said, adding that the system lost about $11 million in city funding this year after more than 3,000 students departed. "We want them to come up with a way of working with our charter school partners so that all our students would benefit."

She and others also questioned how school officials could ensure that the children leaving Montgomery after fourth grade would get a slot at the KIPP school. By law, charter schools must admit students citywide and are not allowed to give preference to children from one school or neighborhood.

Supporters of the agreement contend that the 50 or so Montgomery children leaving fourth grade would not face much competition for the 85 slots in KIPP's fifth-grade class because parents at other elementary schools would want their children to stay where they are through fifth or sixth grade. Graham disagreed, saying that KIPP might draw many applicants from those schools, which would lower their enrollment and disrupt their budget. She said she hoped the plan could be revised to address those concerns.

Lee Glazer, co-chairwoman of Save Our Schools, a group of school activists who oppose charter schools, called the plan "an invitation for students to leave the school system."

KIPP officials said they were surprised and disappointed by yesterday's developments. "Last month at a meeting with Dr. Janey, we were assured this looks very promising," said Susan Schaeffler, founding principal and executive director of KIPP D.C., which operates the local campuses. "This has put us in jeopardy of not getting our school opened on time."

Robert Cane, executive director of the charter school advocacy organization Friends of Choice in Urban Schools, criticized Graham for moving away from the proposal. "You have a superintendent interested in trying new things," Cane said. "Now the forces of reaction are going to shut down the system's reform plan. That bodes ill for public education in the District."

Martin, the principal at Montgomery, said parents at the school have expressed support for the agreement at meetings.

Doris Brooks, whose fourth-grade granddaughter would be seeking entry to KIPP, said, "Anytime teachers and parents get together and decide what's best for the children, the school system should let them have what they want."