Companies, Nonprofits Jump at Chance To Manage N.Y.C. Schools

By Darcia Harris Bowman

Fifteen companies and nonprofits are vying to manage some of New York City's most troubled schools in what could be one of the nation's largest experiments in privatizing public education.

Under a wide-reaching plan unveiled this summer by Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy, as many as 50 chronically low-performing schools could be operating as privately managed charter schools next fall.

City school board members were reviewing the various management proposals last week, a spokeswoman for the board said, and they will likely pick one or more vendors and match them with schools early this fall. The chosen companies or organizations would then have to engage teachers, parents, and the community in the process. Before a school can be converted to charter status, state law requires a majority vote of the parents...