Failed DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee donates significantly to L.A. school board races
Former District of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, a controversial figure in education reform, said Wednesday that her organization has made a substantial donation to the contests for seats on the Los Angeles Board of Education.
The support of StudentsFirst is going toward a campaign on behalf of school board President Monica Garcia as well as Kate Anderson and Antonio Sanchez, who are seeking to join the seven-member body.
Rhee disclosed the contribution to The Times after taking part in a panel on education reform at USC. [Updated Feb. 20 at 2:27 p.m.: StudentsFirst said Wednesday the amount was $250,000.]
Rhee's donation follows a $1-million donation to the same candidates made by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg last week. The independent campaign for the three contestants in the March 5 election is being managed by the Coalition for School Reform, which is closely allied with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
