The Atlanta school district is bringing in a national management consulting group to lead part of its efforts to turn around schools potentially subject to state takeover if Gov. Nathan Deal’s Opportunity School District amendment is approved by voters next year.
On Tuesday, Atlanta Public Schools launched an eight-week “New School Turnaround Strategy Project” guided by the Boston Consulting Group.
The work is being funded by private donations, according to a written statement from APS Superintendent Meria Carstarphen.
For information on applying to serve on an advisory committee for the project, click here. The application deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.
The Opportunity School District amendment to the state constitution, which voters will decide on next year, would give the state the power to seize control of failing schools, convert them into charters or shut them down.
“It is important to me that whatever strategy we develop does not happen ‘to’ our communities or ‘to’ the dedicated staff members who have been committed to some of our most at-risk schools for decades,” Carstarphen said in a written statement. “I want our key stakeholders at the table and engaged in this important decision-making process.”
In the statement, Carstarphen also defended the board's recent decision to hire Deal's soon-to-be-former policy advisor Erin Hames to advise the district regarding the Opportunity School District.
“I knew she could be a key component in challenging us to do the tough and smart work as well as help us navigate the system to avoid the OSD,” she said.
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