Phaseout of EMOs accelerates
by Paul Socolar on May 12 2010 Posted in Latest news
Shortly after the School Reform Commissionapproved the turnover of seven low-performing schools to charter operators, District officials told reporters without fanfare that 16 Philadelphia schools operated by outside education management organizations (EMOs) would revert to District management in the fall.
The change will leave just 12 District schools under EMO management. They are operated by five providers - EdisonLearning, Victory Schools, Universal Companies, Foundations Inc., and the University of Pennsylvania - that were among those hired to lead the massive effort to turn around District schools in 2002. At that time, shortly after the "friendly" state takeover of Philadelphia schools, 45 low-performing schools were put under outside management.
The District's budget for education management organizations, which has declined steadily, is slated to be cut sharply in 2010-11, by $3.3 million or 44 percent, to $4.1 million. This covers Philadelphia's 12 remaining EMO schools,
