World Bank Invests Its Expertise in Washington Schools

By Robert C. Johnston

Washington

Though it is better known for underwriting reform in struggling, far-away countries, the World Bank is now pouring time and attention into the historically low-performing school system in its own backyard.

Since last fall, the Washington-based lending institution has shared facilities, staff, and grants with its host city's 77,000-student school district. And, though dwarfed by the $10 billion the bank has lent to developing countries for education projects since 1993, the recent effort marks an unprecedented investment by the bank in the District of Columbia schools and the first of its kind in the United States.

"Far be it for me to say we live in a Third World country, but Washington has had trouble with its schools," said Daniel Ritchie, who coordinates the D.C. Community Outreach Program for the bank. "The real question is whether we have the skills and talents to bring to...