Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies « Failing Schools

Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies « Failing Schools

Why Rhee REALLY remains at the core of controversies

APRIL 5, 2011

by Sabrina

Michelle Rhee biographer Richard Whitmire published an op-edyesterday, claiming to explain why Rhee remains at the heart of controversies in education reform. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the awful state of education coverage in our mass media, Mr. Whitmire has missed the mark.

First, to clarify some of his “clarifications”—

• On her record: Whitmire attempts to dismiss the current DC CAS scandal and its potential to blemish Rhee’s alleged success as Chancellor of the DC Public Schools by appealing to DC’s NAEP scores during the time when she ran the district. He says that between 2007 and 2009, the district made significant progress not seen in comparable urban districts. Two