Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings - The Washington Post

Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings - The Washington Post:

Henderson aims to avoid mistakes of Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee school closings

Katherine Frey/THE WASHINGTON POST - D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson speaks before the D.C. Council and the public about her reasons for proposing to close 20 schools. The public hearing at the Wilson Building on Thursday, November 15, 2012 in Washington, D.C. was the first of several hearings. The second is Monday, November 19, 2012.

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By Emma Brown, Sunday, November 18, 2:00 PM

D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson faces twin challenges as she prepares for thesecond public hearing Monday on her plan to close 20 of the city’s schools: Persuading skeptical parents and politicians that a smaller school system will be stronger, and that she will avoid mistakes her predecessor made during the most recent round of closures.

Then-Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s closure of 23 schools in 2008 cost millions of dollars more than anticipated, according to the city auditor. And the decisions might have led to the exodus of thousands of students from the school system, according to three think tanks that