Adopting an offensive game plan, Atlanta Public Schools is taking what some may consider drastic steps to improve its schools at risk of state takeover.
If voters approve a constitutional amendment in November to create a state-run Opportunity School District, APS is a likely target. The district has about two dozen struggling schools eligible for the takeover plan created by Gov. Nathan Deal.
To avert that from happening, APS is now seeking organizations like charter school operators, local nonprofits and companies that run charter schools to rev up the performance of some of those schools.
In a blog posting, APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen admitted the plan was controversial. But, she says, it is necessary. “It became clear to me that APS desperately needed transformational change! And that is why I believe the steps we are taking as part of our school turnaround strategy are so critical,” she writes.
Read what else Carstarphen says about her turnaround plans on the AJC Get Schooled blog on MyAJC.com.
About the Author
