Baltimore School Restructuring

Last year, the state of Maryland attempted to take over nearly a dozen failing schools in Baltimore City, an effort that ended with the schools remaining status quo ante--that is failing miserably. Now, the Baltimore Sun is reporting that many of the same schools considered last year are now going to be restructured due to, you guessed it, inability to actually educate kids.

Sparked by failing test scores at eight academically troubled schools, the city school system is considering proposals to relinquish control of the schools to local universities and other outside partners who could devise strategies for turning them around.

The school board is expected to vote on the proposals tonight. Under one proposal, four elementary/middle schools in Cherry Hill would be operated in partnership with Towson University. A governing board would be established to oversee those four schools plus Morrell Park Elementary/Middle, which is already run by Towson.

In a separate vote, the board is being asked to approve plans to restructure three failing high schools - Frederick Douglass, Patterson and Northwestern - that were targeted by the state for outside takeovers last year. Each would establish its own governing board, and Douglass would operate in partnership with the Johns Hopkins University.

The eight schools would operate similarly to charter schools, public schools that operate independently.

"This is not for the faint of heart," said Jeffrey N. Grotsky, a senior researcher at Towson's College of Education. "This is real reform. Our expectations are quite high."

What is interesting is the while the schools will operate like charter schools, they will receive full public school funding (charters in Baltimore are still engaged in fight over funding despite a court ruling in their favor.) Additionally, the schools will be managed by a committee consisting of parents, teachers, other community leaders, and education activists who have volunteered. The schools will have full autonomy over their budget. The important part is the inclusion of parents in the schools' operation. Outside of charters, this may be the first time in Baltimore public school history where parents have real control over the functioning of the school.

While the schools have control over budget, it is highly unlikely that they will have control over staffing since it is not reported that the schools will be exempt from union staffing rules. The school board will meet tonight (Feb. 27) to vote on the restructuring plans.

Update (2/28/07): The Baltimore City School Board approved the restructuring in a near unanimous vote. More here.