SAN FRANCISCO—California education officials on Monday identified dozens of low-performing public schools that will be required to adopt draconian reforms or close entirely.
The state Department of Education released a preliminary list of 188 of the state's "persistently lowest achieving" schools. Some schools could be replaced by others before the state Board of Education finalizes the list Thursday.
The listed schools will have to implement reform measures that could include replacing the principal and most of the staff; closing and sending students to other schools; or closing and reopening as a charter school.
The schools on the list will be eligible to apply for federal school improvement grants ranging from $50,000 to $2 million for the 2010-2011 academic year.
"We think this gives schools an opportunity to undertake some reform efforts that, absent this, they would not be able to do," said Deputy Superintendent Deborah Sigman.
State law requires the listed schools to adopt severe reforms or shut down, but does not specify when.
Some education advocates disagree with the sanctions, which almost all involve replacing principals in the state's most challenging schools.
"Just singling out a principal for blame when scores don't improve fast enough isn't fair," said Bob Wells, executive director of the Association of California School Administrators. "Pretty soon you'll have trouble recruiting new principals to take these
jobs."