When Mayors Take Over, Do Schools Get Better?
The success or failure of a community often rests heavily on the strength of its public education system.
So, when schools fail, should the mayor take over?
This question is playing out in several cities right now, including Bridgeport, Conn., and Kansas City, Mo., where mayoral takeovers have been proposed as a means of turning around failing public schools.
In some major urban districts, including New York City, Boston and Chicago, mayoral takeovers have resulted in improved student achievement and better relations between teachers and management. But such drastic measures are far from a silver bullet and come with significant risks – both for the mayor who seizes the reins, and the communities that might find themselves disenfranchised from the school management process.
Kansas City’s public school system had its accreditation yanked by the state on Jan. 1. Mayor Sly James
So, when schools fail, should the mayor take over?
This question is playing out in several cities right now, including Bridgeport, Conn., and Kansas City, Mo., where mayoral takeovers have been proposed as a means of turning around failing public schools.
In some major urban districts, including New York City, Boston and Chicago, mayoral takeovers have resulted in improved student achievement and better relations between teachers and management. But such drastic measures are far from a silver bullet and come with significant risks – both for the mayor who seizes the reins, and the communities that might find themselves disenfranchised from the school management process.
Kansas City’s public school system had its accreditation yanked by the state on Jan. 1. Mayor Sly James