Firm may take over at-risk schools

Terry Webster

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000 | 10:57 a.m.

A management plan for at-risk schools that is receiving mixed reviews in Fresno, Calif., could be coming here.

The New York City-based Edison Schools, a for-profit firm, is hoping to take over several at-risk schools in the Clark County School District.

But talks between officials from Edison Schools and the district are still in the early stages.

Edison Schools, the nation's biggest for-profit school manager, would bring to Clark County its own curriculum, technology, teacher training and methods of boosting student achievement, along with a longer school day and computers for all of its teachers and students.

Additionally, the company touts its ability to increase student and parent commitment to education, resulting in fewer students moving in and out of schools. Clark County's highly mobile student population hurts academic performance, according to district officials.

The program would not increase costs, but Nevada's per pupil funding would be handed over to Edison Schools, Clark County School Superintendent Carlos Garcia said. He favored the program while serving as superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District, a position he held before coming here in July.

Fresno's School Board rejected the program, but the county overruled the board and put it at the lowest-performing elementary school, now called Edison Bethune Charter Academy.

"I think most of the concern centered on it being a for-profit business," Larry Powell, who oversees charter schools in Fresno, said, adding the program caused a flap with a teacher's union because the pay scales were different. In Fresno, Edison teachers are paid lower daily rates but end up making more per year because they work more days than regular school teachers.

Still, student enrollment at Edison Bethune is up from 400 to 700 in the one year since the program began, Powell said.

Generally, Edison operates under a contract -- usually five years -- with either an independent charter school board or directly with the school district. The contract can be broken if the company fails to produce its promised results.

After taking over, the company makes a swift and thorough change in how the school runs, installing its curriculum and training and setting up its operation. Edison's annual report states that in order to change schools thoroughly it is essential to change everything at once.

In doing that, the company pours $1 million or more into a school and, according to Powell, solicits outside donations. Attendance at Edison Schools is by choice, with preference going to students living closest to the school.

When asked if Edison is producing results in Fresno, Garcia said it has only been in place for one year, and it is too early to tell.

The move has received both good and bad reviews, Powell said.

A weekly alternative newspaper, The California Advocate, criticized the Fresno program in an Aug. 11 editorial, saying that it fell short on promises of higher test scores and computers for every student.

Yet Edison Schools announced in September that over the past four years, its overall student state and national achievement test scores have risen by up to 6 percentage points.

In Nevada, the Department of Education uses the TerraNova, a standardized test, to rate school performance. Schools that perform poorly on the test are placed on the state's list of schools needing improvement.

Two elementary schools on the west side, Madison and Fitzgerald, have been on the list for three consecutive years, the length of time the state allows before it considers a takeover.

Marzette Lewis, a vocal activist in West Las Vegas, said Edison Schools sounds like a good idea.

"It seems like it would be OK, as long as it would help these kids," she said.

But Lewis questioned whether the concept also would be viewed as a way to take predominantly black schools out of the loop.

"We would still want to attend regular School Board meetings," Lewis said.

Garcia would not say which schools in Clark County might be targeted.

Community input and approval by the School Board have to be secured before Edison could come to Clark County.

"Right now we are just talking to see if either side is at all interested," Garcia said. But talks are progressing. A representative from Edison Schools recently visited Las Vegas, and two School Board members are planning to attend its national conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. this month.

The Colorado Springs School District operates two Edison schools; the Roosevelt Edison Charter School primary and elementary academies and the Emerson-Edison Partnership School for primary, elementary and junior high, John Griego, executive director of school leadership, said.

"Traditionally, Edison takes on some pretty tough schools across the nation and that is no different here," said Griego.

He described the district's relationship with Edison as "very good." The company's contract comes up this year for a 5-year renewal.

Improvements, although not drastic, are being made.

"Test scores have continued to grow," Griego said. "They are probably just as good or better than schools similar to us."

Like Powell, Griego said there was initial opposition to the concept of a for-profit organization managing schools.

"But they have gained credibility over the past three years,"said Griego.

The Colorado Springs School District was giving Edison Schools 100 of its state per pupil aid, but the state reduced that amount to 95 percent. The other 5 percent goes back to the school district to help cover the costs of administrative support to the schools.

This school year, the number of Edison Schools in the nation is expected to increase to 108, up from 70 last year. Edison Schools anticipates operating in 45 cities and 21 states this year, with its total enrollment growing to up to 59,000 students.