Who's the power behind CMS?
If you follow the money, you'll find the Broad Foundation. And skeptics are questioning its clout.
Superintendent Peter Gorman may be the face of public education in Charlotte, but is a Los Angeles billionaire the power behind the scenes?
Locally and nationally, skeptics are questioning the clout wielded by Eli Broad. His foundation, which has helped put Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in the national spotlight, has also paid to train Gorman and the school board, and to help CMS hire administrators with a business bent.
As public money dwindles, "venture philanthropists" such as Broad (rhymes with "road") and Bill Gates play a growing role in driving education reform. CMS is in the thick of their quest to find better ways to educate low-income and minority students, using principles that helped the benefactors earn their fortunes.
"With budget cuts, it's impossible to make student gains unless every penny at central-
Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/05/08/2281054/whos-the-power-behind-cms.html#ixzz1LtGHAHwR