Chicago's 'Summit': A Populist Blueprint To Reshape Schools

By William Snider

After years of bitter feuding, the major groups with a stake in the Chicago public schools have achieved a goal few thought possible just six months ago: a common vision for the future of the city's often-criticized school system.

A 54-member group composed of the top business, education, civic, and political leaders, working with many of the parents whose outrage gave new momentum to the city's school-improvement efforts, have hammered out the broad outlines of a plan that could fundamentally change the way the schools are run.

The vital role that parents have played in formulating the plan is demonstrated by its most striking and unusual proposal: a call for parent-dominated...