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Out of the 27 schools labeled "failing", Chancellor Michelle Rhee announced Thursday, she fired 10 principals and was requiring teachers at seven schools to re-apply for their jobs. Rhee also announced that she was turning the management of five troubled schools over to private entities.
D.C.'s Anacostia High School is among 27 city schools that have flunked the "No Child Left Behind" standards five years in a row. Thursday morning, city officials announced outside partners would run the five schools; Anacostia, Ballou, Coolidge, Dunbar, and Hart.
"This is not about a frittering around the edges, it is incredibly substantial change that needs to be implemented," said Rhee.
Among partners they're considering is Friendship Charter. It already runs one of the biggest high schools in the city with a 90 percent graduation rate. Under the plan, D.C. would keep it's schools, pay the staff and maintain the buildings while the charter company runs them.
"I see no reason why we wouldn't be able to turn around these D.C. high schools." said Brian Beck with Friendship Charter Schools. "I know we can do it."
Donna Waller pulled her daughter from D.C. public school and put her in Friendship. "She's done tremendous. She started getting on the honor roll."
At Anacostia, parents had no problem with the charter taking over.
"Charter schools are supposed to be better schools, I understand, and maybe discipline and things of that nature," said parent Vivian March DeLoach.
At Coolidge High one of the principals not being fired this year said he could work under charter management. "They have come in with the true spirit of partnership, so I don't anticipate any problems in the transition," said Nelson Burton.
The school system had yet to announce which of the charters or other private entities would actually run the five schools. Under the plan, they would observe the schools next year then take over management the following year.
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