Outside Help for Schools Possible

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, talked with nonprofit firms and colleges. (By Pouya Dianat -- The Washington Post)
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Officials from Friendship Public Charter Schools and KIPP DC, which operate two of the fastest growing charters in the city, said they have had preliminary discussions with Rhee about working with students from academically troubled schools.

"We agreed that local charter organizations ought to be among those considered," said Donald L. Hense, founder and chairman of Friendship. "I believe there is an intention on her part on including local groups in her plans. Local groups know the children" in the District.

Susan Schaeffler, executive director of KIPP DC, said she was interested in replicating a two-year agreement the organization has with Scott Montgomery Elementary School in Northwest. KIPP DC leases space in the building for a middle school and shares some of its instructional methods with Scott Montgomery teachers.

KIPP DC is not in the business of taking over schools, she said, but is "in the business of partnering with and sharing with" the school system.

The Philadelphia school district, considered a leader in the private-management movement, has six groups running nearly 40 troubled schools. Officials have said that, despite spending more money for them, the privately run schools fare no better than the other public schools in Philadelphia.

School advocates, who have sued Rhee for failing to disclose her fiscal 2009 budget proposal, expressed dismay yesterday that she did not provide more information about the management firms.

"Why not present the organizations to the public so that you can have some buy in on it?" Cherita Whiting, a parent and Ward 4 education leader, said in an interview. "We need to see where is the money from the private groups coming from. Why are they being so hush-hush about our tax dollars?"