Edison To Study Woes Of Philadelphia Schools

By Robert C. Johnston

Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania took the first step toward a possible takeover of the Philadelphia schools last week by naming Edison Schools Inc., the nation's largest for-profit operator of public schools, to review the 210,000-student system.

Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street and Gov. Ridge have 90 days to agree on how to fix the city schools' fiscal and educational woes, or the state will take over the system.

Some see the $2.7 million contract with Edison as the first step toward turning over some schools, if not the management of the entire system, to the company, which now runs 136 schools with 75,000...