NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, June 25, 2004

Story Continues Below

  The third-largest public school system in the nation, Chicago has almost 600 schools and more than 431,000 pupils. The changes have already begun at some schools.

"We must face the reality that, for schools that have consistently underperformed, it's time to start over," Daley said Thursday.

Tim Knowles, director of the Center of Urban School Improvement at the University of Chicago, called Chicago's plan "the most ambitious educational agenda for any urban area in the country."

Daley began running Chicago's schools in 1995 and put money into magnet and selective-enrollment schools. Test scores improved early but have leveled off, and the reforms had little effect at the worst-performing schools.

By law, charter schools are exempt from most state education rules outside standardized testing. Contract schools are more closely tied to the district and subject to state regulations such as school-year minimums and mandated holidays. But they will be given the freedom to hire their own staffs, set pay, decide the length of the school day and design curriculum, officials said.

Teachers union members are not guaranteed jobs at the charter and contract schools. Union president Debbie Lynch said she would reserve judgment on the mayor's plan because she had not seen its details.

The effort also could diminish local school councils, through which parents have a say in how the schools are run.

"This is wholesale experimentation on poor children," said Julie Woestehoff, director of Parents United for Responsible Education. "Private industry has no proven track record for fixing schools."

© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Editor's note: