Ex-D.C. Superintendent Brings "Big Money" Lobby to Create Alabama Charters Schools | al.com

Ex-D.C. Superintendent Brings "Big Money" Lobby to Create Alabama Charters Schools | al.com:

Ex-D.C. Superintendent Brings "Big Money" Lobby to Create Alabama Charters Schools

Published: Thursday, February 02, 2012, 8:57 AM Updated: Thursday, February 02, 2012, 10:28 AM

By AEA
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Michelle Rhee, a highly controversial figure in education is being brought to Alabama to work on charter schools, although there’s been no public disclosure of who is paying her group.

Gov. Robert Bentley’s office did not notify the State Board of Education or the state school superintendent ahead of a meeting Tuesday between legislators, state officials and that Rhee’s group, StudentsFirst, would be working in Alabama.

Dr. Tommy Bice, state school superintendent, said he was “surprised” to read in a newspaper that the outside group was being brought to Alabama to work on education and that neither he nor members of the State Board of Education had been notified of the meeting.

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Bentley said he looked forward to working with Rhee’s group.

At one time, Rhee, 42, who lives in Sacramento, Calif., was the chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools. But after three years on the job, she resigned under fire amidst questions about dramatic and questionable gains