THE SECRET LIFE OF VOUCHERS

For some schools, pressure is on to improve or face closure (KATE N. GROSSMAN, September 2, 2003, Chicago Sun-Times)

It's opening day for the Chicago public schools, and for many of them the year ahead can best be described this way: The Big Fix.

Two "Renaissance" schools are reopening after being shuttered 15 months ago because of flagging scores; 10 other low-performing grammar schools have one year to improve or face closing under a deal struck with the teachers union; four new small high schools are opening inside three failing high schools; and three more charter schools are opening their doors.

The efforts are mostly directed at the city's low-performing schools and high-risk students.

"This makes sense," said Steve Zemelman of Leadership for Quality Education, a reform group. "Each school has its own culture, so rather than mandate a 'single size fits all,' this means teachers have some choice, get to make a commitment and feel in control."

"It's about time lots and lots of energy was focused on these schools," added Chicago Teachers Union President Deborah Lynch. "The real challenge and success of urban public education hinges on turn-around strategies that will enable us to show success in schools struggling with high concentrations of poverty."

The year also opens with 38 schools taking in some 1,035 students from low-scoring schools under the federal No Child Left Behind law--a transition that promises to be chaotic with parents only receiving notice of transfers on Friday.

Any day now someone besides George W. Bush and Ted Kennedy will realize how completely the President duped the Senator into passing at least public school choice. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 2, 2003 12:18 PM