To align with the Obama administration's push to reform failing schools, California today will release a controversial list of the state's 187 "persistently lowest-achieving schools."
The schools will be forced to close or adopt other drastic measures to improve.
Release of the list has been delayed, partly because of its sensitivity. Because of the complicated criteria used to develop the list, it omits a host of low-scoring schools and includes some higher-performing ones.
While superintendents and the principals of schools on the list have been informed, the list is being kept secret until 10 a.m. today.
Schools on the list must take one of four measures by the start of the next school year:
  •  Replace the principal, rehire no more than 50 percent of the staff and change the instructional program.

  •  Close and reopen as a charter school.

  •  Close and reassign students to other higher-achieving schools in the district.

  •  Replace the principal, increase instructional time and make other changes.
    Schools on the list may apply for government grants, ranging from $50,000 to $2 million per school, to carry out the reforms.
    Local school officials found out about the list on Feb. 22, and a preliminary list of schools was identified several days later. But to their consternation, details of how penalties will work remain hazy, and administrators dispute the fairness of
    how the list was compiled.
    "We have major concerns with the calculations," said Superintendent Don Iglesias of the San Jose Unified School District, which is expected to have at least one school on the list.
    "I'll take my lumps if we deserve it, but we were surprised."