Takeovers
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Law & Courts
Newark Sues State, District Over Losses
In what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind involving a state takeover of a district, the city of Newark, N.J., has taken its state-run public school system to court, alleging financial mismanagement.
School & District Management
'Comeback' From State Control Means Solvency for Compton
The first California district to lose control of its schools to the state for financial and academic reasons is gradually regaining power.
School & District Management
Mayoral Takeover of Schools Off To Tumultuous Start in Pa. Capital
The mayor of Harrisburg, Pa., is exercising his new authority over the city's schools, after a turbulent transition marked by high-level personnel changes and the start of an investigation into allegations of missing school property and misuse of funds.
School & District Management
Calif. Superintendent Leaves Second District in Disarray
Eight years after being fired amidst California's most notorious school mismanagement scandal, J.L. Handy is suspected of running a second district so deeply into red ink that it is on the verge of state takeover.
School & District Management
Opinion
A Fair Test of State Privatization?
Kalman R. Hettleman believes that the deck may stacked in Maryland's closely watched experiment to aid failing schools through privatization.
School & District Management
West Virginia Seizes Control Of Its Third School District
The West Virginia board of education took control of a local school system early this month, declaring that the Lincoln County district had made insufficient progress toward correcting major problems cited in a report last October.
Education Funding
Settlement Averts School Shutdown In Philadelphia
An agreement hammered out last week between top state and city officials will give Philadelphia enough money to keep its schools open this summer and avoid a state takeover.
School & District Management
N.J. Takeover of Newark Found To Yield Gains, But Lack Clear Goals
As the state-run Newark, N.J., school system slowly begins its transition back to local control, an extensive new study shows that while test scores have risen since the 1995 takeover, clearly defined priorities and effective leadership remain elusive throughout the financially troubled district.
School & District Management
Pa. Targets 11 Districts For Takeover
Philadelphia and 10 other low-achieving Pennsylvania school systems are bracing for the impact of a new law that gives the state education department vast new powers to intervene in them—and ultimately take them over.
School Choice & Charters
News in Brief: A State Capitals Roundup
- Pa. Gov. Seeks $1 Million for Possible Philadelphia Takeover
- Ky OKs Posting Commandments
- Judge Upholds Illinois Tax Credits
- Ky. Enacts Teacher-Quality Law
- Special Session Planned in Ariz.
School & District Management
State Audits Find New Budget Shortfalls in Newark
Auditors reviewing the state-run Newark, N.J., schools have uncovered more unpaid bills and debt in the troubled district, bringing the total red ink to about $70 million in the system—$12 million above a shortfall that was reported in February.
School & District Management
ACLU, Calif. Settle Lawsuit Over Compton
The long-troubled Compton, Calif., schools moved a step closer to independence from state management last week as civil rights advocates and state officials settled a lawsuit claiming the district's 31,000 students had been denied the opportunity to receive an adequate education.
School & District Management
Private Firms Tapped To Fix Md. Schools
In a groundbreaking twist on states' efforts to turn around failing schools, Maryland education officials decided last week to seize control of three Baltimore elementary schools and turn them over to for-profit management later this year.
School & District Management
Starting From Scratch
Though schools in South Carolina's Allendale County had been on the slide for years, a combination of political factors set the stage for takeover this past summer: the election of a new state schools chief, the power given state officials by a new accountability law, and a new governor elected on a platform that emphasized education. In August, the state superintendent declared a state of emergency.