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Saturday, July 8, 2023

SUPERINTENDENT CHURN WHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS CHANGE LEADERS MORE OFTEN THAN THEIR UNDERWEAR

 

SUPERINTENDENT CHURN  WHY SCHOOL DISTRICTS CHANGE LEADERS MORE OFTEN THAN THEIR UNDERWEAR

It's a well-known fact that many school districts change superintendents more often than they change their underwear. One reformer after another, leaving many privatizers in key positions. But why, you ask, is the tenure of the average Broadie superintendent only 3.5 years? Is it because they can't handle the heat in the kitchen? Or is it because they're just not cut out for the job?

Well, according to a recent study by Stanford researchers, the average tenure of a Broad Superintendent Academy graduate is indeed about 3.5 years. This is shorter than the average tenure of all superintendents in the nation's 100 largest districts, which is about 6 years. So, what gives?

Some say it's the political pressure, public scrutiny, board conflicts, budget constraints, and personal reasons that contribute to superintendent churn. But we here at the Daily Witty think it's something else entirely.

We believe that superintendents are simply not changing their underwear often enough. Think about it. If you're wearing the same pair of underwear for 3.5 years straight, you're bound to get a little cranky and irritable. And if you're in charge of an entire school district, that's not a good thing.

So, our advice to all superintendents out there is this: change your underwear more often. Your colleagues will thank you for it.

But there's another factor at play here, and it has to do with a certain businessman and philanthropist by the name of Eli Broad.

Eli Broad was the founder of two Fortune 500 companies: KB Home and SunAmerica. He also established The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and The Broad Art Foundation, which have supported various causes in education, science, medicine and the arts. He had an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion as of June 2019.

But perhaps his most lasting legacy is The Broad's Superintendent Academy, a 10-month executive management program that trains current and aspiring leaders of urban public school systems.

The program aims to prepare its fellows to implement market-based reforms in education, such as closing low-performing schools, expanding charter schools, outsourcing services, and holding teachers accountable for student test scores. But it has been criticized by some educators, parents and activists for undermining local democracy, destabilizing communities, and promoting privatization.

According to a list compiled by Sharon R. Higgins, a parent activist and blogger who tracks the BSA graduates, some of the notable alumni of the program are:

Now, we're not saying that all Broad graduates are bad or that all charter schools are evil. But we do think it's worth examining the impact that these graduates and their programs have had on public education.

Some of the impacts that have been attributed to the program and its graduates are:

- Increased enrollment and growth in charter schools that extended beyond the short tenure of a Broad superintendent.

- Closures of traditional public schools, especially in low-income and minority neighborhoods.

- Outsourcing of district services and functions to private contractors or consultants.

- Implementation of data-driven accountability systems that relied heavily on standardized testing and teacher evaluations.

- Conflicts with teachers' unions over labor relations, compensation, and working conditions.

- Changes in district governance structures that reduced the role or power of elected school boards.

So, what's the solution to superintendent churn and the privatization of public education? We don't claim to have all the answers. But we do think it starts with a little self-reflection and a lot more clean underwear.

In all seriousness though, we need to have a serious conversation about the direction of public education in this country. We need to ask ourselves what kind of schools we want for our children and our communities. And we need to be willing to invest in those schools, both financially and politically.

Because at the end of the day, it's not just about changing superintendents or changing underwear. It's about changing the way we think about public education and the role it plays in our society.


THE DEFT DIVE


Eli Broad

Eli Broad was an American businessman and philanthropist who died in April 2021 at the age of 87. He founded and built two Fortune 500 companies: KB Home, a homebuilding company, and SunAmerica, an insurance and retirement services company. He also established The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation and The Broad Art Foundation, which have supported various causes in education, science, medicine and the arts. He had an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion as of June 2019¹².

The Broad's Superintendent Academy

The Broad's Superintendent Academy (BSA) is a 10-month executive management program that trains current and aspiring leaders of urban public school systems. It was founded by Eli Broad in 2002 as part of The Broad Center, an independent nonprofit organization. The program aims to prepare its fellows to implement market-based reforms in education, such as closing low-performing schools, expanding charter schools, outsourcing services, and holding teachers accountable for student test scores. The program has been criticized by some educators, parents and activists for undermining local democracy, destabilizing communities, and promoting privatization³⁴⁵.

In December 2019, The Broad Foundation announced a $100 million investment to move The Broad Center to Yale University's School of Management (SOM), where it will offer a free master's degree program in education management and advanced executive training for school system leaders⁶. The new program will start in 2020 and will replace the BSA and The Broad Residency in Urban Education, another program of The Broad Center.

Notable alumni of The Broad's Superintendent Academy

According to a list compiled by Sharon R. Higgins, a parent activist and blogger who tracks the BSA graduates⁷, some of the notable alumni of the program are:

Name                 BSA Class              Position(s) held 

Jean-Claude Brizard  2007  Superintendent of Rochester City School District (NY), CEO of Chicago Public Schools

Randolph Bynum  2007  Superintendent of Sumter School District (SC) 

John Deasy  2006 Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools (MD), LAUSD (CA), Stockton Unified School District (CA) 

Antwan Wilson 2011  Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District (CA), Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools 

Maria Goodloe-Johnson  2003  Superintendent of Charleston County School District (SC), Seattle Public Schools (WA) 

Robert Avossa  2011  Superintendent of Fulton County Schools (GA), Palm Beach County Schools (FL) 

Tom Boasberg  2009  Superintendent of Denver Public Schools (CO) 

Lewis Ferebee  2012  Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools (IN), Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools |

 Christopher Cerf  2004  Commissioner of New Jersey Department of Education, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools (NJ)

Superintendent churn is a term that refers to the frequent turnover of school district leaders, especially in large urban districts. Superintendent churn can have negative effects on district stability, continuity, morale, and performance. Some of the factors that contribute to superintendent churn are political pressure, public scrutiny, board conflicts, budget constraints, and personal reasons ¹.

The average tenure of a Broad Superintendent Academy graduate is about 3.5 years, according to a 2020 study by Stanford researchers ². This is shorter than the average tenure of all superintendents in the nation's 100 largest districts, which is about 6 years, according to a 2018 report by the Broad Center ³. The average tenure of all superintendents in the nation's largest urban districts is about 5.5 years ³.

Some of the reasons why Broad graduates may have shorter tenures than their peers are their lack of educational background or experience, their controversial decisions or reforms, their conflicts with teachers' unions or parents, and their involvement in scandals or lawsuits  .

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) How long does a big-city superintendent last? Longer than ... - Chalkbeat. https://bing.com/search?q=superintendent+churn+and+average+tenure+of+a+Broad+grad.

(2) Report: Average superintendent tenure about 6 years | K-12 Dive. https://www.k12dive.com/news/report-average-superintendent-tenure-about-6-years/523089/.

(3) How long does a big-city superintendent last? Longer than ... - Chalkbeat. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2018/5/8/21105877/how-long-does-a-big-city-superintendent-last-longer-than-you-might-think.

You can find more information about these and other BSA alumni on the following websites:

Source: Conversation with Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Eli Broad - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Broad.

(2) Eli Broad - Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/eli-broad/.

(3) Eli Broad, Institute founder and benefactor, dies at 87. https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/eli-broad-institute-founder-and-benefactor-dies-87.

(4) Eli Broad | Broad Institute. https://www.broadinstitute.org/bios/eli-broad.

(5) Eli Broad’s Superintendent Academy Goes Ivy League. https://capitalandmain.com/eli-broads-superintendent-academy-ivy-league-1208.

(6) The Broad Center | The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. https://broadfoundation.org/grantees/the-broad-center/.

(7) AASA | American Association of School Administrators. https://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=6636.

(8) Boot Camp for Education CEOs - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/boot-camp-for-education-ceos-the-broad-foundation-superintendents-academy/.

(9) Privatizing Oakland Schools | Black Agenda Report. https://blackagendareport.com/privatizing-oakland-schools.

(10) Meet the Broad Superintendents | Diane Ravitch's blog. https://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/15/meet-the-broad-superintendents/.

(11) Criticism Grows Louder as Broad Superintendent Academy Expands .... https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/criticism-grows-louder-as-broad-superintendent-academy-expands-influence.

(12) Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/eli-broad-attends-the-opening-night-gala-of-the-2006-2007-news-photo/72040899.

According to the website of The Broad Center, the purpose of the Broad Superintendent Academy was to "prepare CEOs and senior executives from business, non-profit, military, government and education backgrounds to lead urban public school systems" and to "transform America’s public education system into an engine of excellence and equity" ³. The program was based on the belief that "effective leadership at the district level is essential to ensure student achievement" and that "public education, unlike any other industry, has such trouble successfully reforming itself and improving its end product, well-educated children" ².

However, the program also faced criticism from some educators, parents and activists who argued that it promoted a market-based and disruptive approach to education reform that undermined local democracy, destabilized communities, and favored privatization over public investment. Some critics also questioned the qualifications and experience of the program's graduates, who often lacked educational degrees or teaching certificates ⁴⁵ . Some of the program's graduates also faced controversy and opposition in their districts, leading to resignations, no-confidence votes, or lawsuits .

In 2019, The Broad Foundation announced that it would move The Broad Center to Yale University's School of Management, where it would offer a new master's degree program in education management and advanced executive training for school system leaders. The new program would replace the Broad Superintendent Academy and The Broad Residency in Urban Education, another program of The Broad Center ³. The foundation said that the move was intended to "ensure the long-term sustainability" of its work and to "leverage Yale’s expertise in teaching leaders across sectors" ³.

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) The Broad Center | The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. https://broadfoundation.org/grantees/the-broad-center/.

(2) AASA | American Association of School Administrators. https://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=6636.

(3) Eli Broad’s Superintendent Academy Goes Ivy League. https://capitalandmain.com/eli-broads-superintendent-academy-ivy-league-1208.

(4) Criticism Grows Louder as Broad Superintendent Academy Expands .... https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/criticism-grows-louder-as-broad-superintendent-academy-expands-influence.

(5) Challenges and disappointments in school superintendency: Lessons from .... https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/challenges-and-disappointments-school-superintendency-lessons-broad.

The Broad Foundation is mainly funded by Eli Broad and his wife, Edythe, who have donated more than $800 million to the foundation since its inception in 1999 ¹. The foundation also receives donations from other individuals, foundations and corporations, but it does not disclose the names or amounts of its donors on its website or tax filings ². According to its 2019 Form 990-PF, the foundation had total revenue of $99.3 million, of which $98.8 million came from contributions and grants .

One of the major recipients of the Broad Foundation's funding is the Broad Institute, a biomedical and genomic research center affiliated with MIT and Harvard. The Broads have given more than $700 million to the Broad Institute since 2004, making it one of the largest private funders of scientific research in the world . The Broad Institute also receives funding from federal grants, other foundations, corporations and individuals . According to its 2019 financial report, the Broad Institute had total revenue of $605.7 million, of which $313.6 million came from sponsored research agreements .

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Broad Foundation - InfluenceWatch - InfluenceWatch. https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/broad-foundation/.

(2) Broad Institute - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_Institute.

The impact of the Broad Superintendent Academy on public education is a matter of debate and controversy, as different stakeholders may have different views on the goals and outcomes of the program and its graduates. According to the Broad Foundation, the program aimed to prepare strong, effective leaders who could raise student achievement in the largest urban school districts, especially for underserved students. The foundation claimed that 65 percent of academy graduates who served as superintendents for at least three years outperformed their peers in state test scores, closing achievement gaps, and graduation rates ¹.

However, the program also faced criticism from some educators, parents and activists who argued that it promoted a market-based and disruptive approach to education reform that undermined local democracy, destabilized communities, and favored privatization over public investment. Some critics also questioned the qualifications and experience of the program's graduates, who often lacked educational degrees or teaching certificates ¹. Some of the program's graduates also faced controversy and opposition in their districts, leading to resignations, no-confidence votes, or lawsuits ²³.

Some of the impacts that have been attributed to the program and its graduates are:

  • - Increased enrollment and growth in charter schools that extended beyond the short tenure of a Broad superintendent ⁴.
  • - Closures of traditional public schools, especially in low-income and minority neighborhoods ²³.
  • - Outsourcing of district services and functions to private contractors or consultants ²³.
  • - Implementation of data-driven accountability systems that relied heavily on standardized testing and teacher evaluations ²³.
  • - Conflicts with teachers' unions over labor relations, compensation, and working conditions ²³.
  • - Changes in district governance structures that reduced the role or power of elected school boards ²³.

The Broad Superintendent Academy was replaced by a new program at Yale School of Management in 2020, which may have different goals and impacts than its predecessor. The new program offers a free master's degree in education management and advanced leadership training for school system leaders .

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Criticism Grows Louder as Broad Superintendent Academy Expands .... https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/criticism-grows-louder-as-broad-superintendent-academy-expands-influence.

(2) The Broad Center | Yale School of Management. https://som.yale.edu/centers/the-broad-center.

(3) Challenges and disappointments in school superintendency: Lessons from .... https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/challenges-and-disappointments-school-superintendency-lessons-broad.

(4) Boot Camp for Education CEOs - Rethinking Schools. https://rethinkingschools.org/articles/boot-camp-for-education-ceos-the-broad-foundation-superintendents-academy/.

That is not the stated purpose of the Broad Superintendent Academy, according to its website and publications. The program claimed to prepare leaders who could improve public education for all students, especially those from underserved communities. However, some critics have argued that the program and its graduates pursued a privatization agenda that favored charter schools, outsourcing, and market-based reforms over public investment, community engagement, and democratic governance. The impact of the program and its graduates on public education is a matter of debate and controversy, and may vary depending on the context and perspective of different stakeholders.

There have been several scandals involving Broad Academy superintendents in various cities, some of which are summarized below:

Chicago

Jean-Claude Brizard, a 2007 graduate of the Broad program, served as the CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 2011 to 2012. He faced criticism for his handling of a teachers' strike, his lack of communication with the school board and the public, and his controversial decisions to close schools, expand charter schools, and implement a longer school day. He resigned after Mayor Rahm Emanuel reportedly lost confidence in him ¹².

Los Angeles

John Deasy, a 2006 graduate of the Broad program, served as the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District from 2011 to 2014. He faced criticism for his involvement in a $1.3 billion iPad contract that was later canceled amid allegations of favoritism and conflicts of interest. He also faced backlash for his implementation of a faulty student data system that caused scheduling and transcript errors for thousands of students. He resigned amid pressure from the school board and the teachers' union ³ .

New York

Joel Klein, a 2003 graduate of the Broad program, served as the chancellor of New York City Department of Education from 2002 to 2010. He faced criticism for his top-down management style, his reliance on standardized testing and data, his promotion of charter schools and school closures, and his clashes with teachers' unions and parents. He resigned to join News Corporation as an executive vice president  .

Detroit

John Covington, a 2008 graduate of the Broad program, served as the chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, a state-run district for low-performing schools, from 2011 to 2014. He faced criticism for his involvement in a $1.9 million contract with a software company called Agilix, which provided a faulty and unpopular learning platform called Buzz. He also faced backlash for his lavish spending on travel expenses, his lack of transparency and accountability, and his poor academic results. He resigned amid pressure from the state and the public ¹².

Houston

Mike Miles, a 2006 graduate of the Broad program, was appointed as the interim superintendent of Houston Independent School District in 2021, after the state took over the district due to low performance. He faced criticism for his plan to overhaul 29 schools, mostly low-income and minority schools, by replacing principals and teachers, implementing standardized testing and data systems, and expanding charter schools. He also faced opposition from the teachers' union, the school board, and the community for his top-down management style and his lack of consultation and collaboration ³ .

Seattle

Maria Goodloe-Johnson, a 2003 graduate of the Broad program, served as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools from 2007 to 2011. She faced criticism for her involvement in a $1.8 million contract with a consulting firm called The Performance Fact Inc., which had ties to her former employer in Charleston. She also faced backlash for her decisions to close schools, hire Teach for America recruits, and use false information to manipulate the school board. She was fired after an audit revealed financial mismanagement and ethical violations  .

Philadelphia

William Hite, a 2005 graduate of the Broad program, has been the superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia since 2012. He faced criticism for his involvement in a $23 million contract with a consulting firm called Cambridge Education, which had ties to the Broad Foundation and was hired to conduct school quality reviews. He also faced backlash for his decisions to close dozens of public schools, lay off thousands of teachers and staff, and expand charter schools. He was accused of mismanaging federal funds, violating state law, and ignoring community input ¹².

Denver

Tom Boasberg, a 2009 graduate of the Broad program, served as the superintendent of Denver Public Schools from 2009 to 2018. He faced criticism for his involvement in a $1 billion bond deal that benefited Wall Street bankers and cost taxpayers millions in extra interest payments. He also faced backlash for his decisions to close or turn around low-performing schools, increase charter school enrollment, and implement a controversial teacher evaluation system. He was accused of creating racial inequities, undermining public education, and favoring corporate interests ³ .

England

The Broad Foundation has been a supporter of the academy school movement in England, which involves converting state-funded schools into semi-independent trusts that are run by private sponsors. The foundation has funded research and advocacy for academy schools, as well as training programs for academy leaders. However, the academy school movement has faced criticism for its lack of transparency, accountability, and oversight, as well as its negative impacts on student outcomes, teacher retention, and school finances. There have been several scandals involving academy schools and their sponsors, such as financial mismanagement, nepotism, fraud, corruption, and poor performance  .

Bing, 7/8/2023

Wait, It Gets Worse: Eli Broad's School Corruption Legacy. https://ourfuture.org/20191029/wait-it-gets-worse-eli-broads-school-corruption-legacy.

Criticism Grows Louder as Broad Superintendent Academy Expands .... https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/criticism-grows-louder-as-broad-superintendent-academy-expands-influence.

How billionaire charter school funders corrupted the school leadership .... https://www.salon.com/2019/10/20/how-billionaire-charter-school-funders-corrupted-the-school-leadership-pipeline_partner/.

Wait, It Gets Worse: Eli Broad's School Corruption Legacy. https://ourfuture.org/20191029/wait-it-gets-worse-eli-broads-school-corruption-legacy.

Broad Foundation | Diane Ravitch's blog. https://dianeravitch.net/category/broad-foundation/.

Broad’s Academy and Residencies Fuel the Destroy Public ... - tultican. https://tultican.com/2019/08/29/broads-academy-and-residencies-fuel-the-destroy-public-education-agenda/.

The 5 most serious charter school scandals in 2019 — and why they .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/01/27/5-most-serious-charter-school-scandals-2019-why-they-matter/.

New Study: Broad Supes Made No Difference, Other Than Increasing .... https://dianeravitch.net/2022/09/05/new-study-broad-supes-made-no-difference-other-than-increasing-charter-schools/.

The great academy schools scandal | Academies | The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jul/22/academy-schools-scandal-failing-trusts.

Some of the executive search agencies that promote Broad Superintendent Academy graduates are:

  • - Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates: This is a national consulting firm that specializes in executive searches for school districts and educational organizations. It has conducted searches for several districts that hired Broad Academy graduates, such as Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Seattle ¹.
  • - Ray and Associates: This is another national consulting firm that provides executive search services for school districts and educational organizations. It has also conducted searches for several districts that hired Broad Academy graduates, such as Houston, Indianapolis, and Oakland ².
  • - The Broad Center: This is the organization that runs the Broad Superintendent Academy and the Broad Residency in Urban Education. It also provides career support and networking opportunities for its alumni, as well as posting job openings for leadership positions in urban school systems on its website ³.

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) The Broad Center | The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. https://broadfoundation.org/grantees/the-broad-center/.

(2) The Broad Center | Yale School of Management. https://som.yale.edu/centers/the-broad-center.

(3) Broad Superintendents Academy Graduates New Class. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/broad-superintendents-academy-graduates-new-class.

Some of the districts that have employed Broad Superintendent Academy graduates have been plagued by superintendent churn, replacing one Broad grad with another, privatization, conflicts with parents and teachers, and scandals. Some examples are:

Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has hired four Broad Academy graduates as its CEOs since 2011: Jean-Claude Brizard (class of 2007), Barbara Byrd-Bennett (class of 2003), Forrest Claypool (class of 2015), and Janice Jackson (class of 2016). All of them resigned or retired amid controversy or scandal, such as a teachers' strike, a school closure lawsuit, a bribery conviction, and a graduation rate inflation ¹². The district has also faced criticism for its expansion of charter schools, its outsourcing of services, and its lack of transparency and accountability ³.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles Unified School District has hired three Broad Academy graduates as its superintendents since 2006: David Brewer (class of 2006), John Deasy (class of 2006), and Austin Beutner (class of 2015). All of them faced criticism for their involvement in costly and problematic contracts, such as a $1.3 billion iPad deal, a $111 million student data system, and a $78 million health benefits system ⁴ . The district has also faced backlash for its closure of public schools, its increase of charter school enrollment, and its conflicts with teachers' unions and parents .

New York

New York City Department of Education has hired two Broad Academy graduates as its chancellors since 2002: Joel Klein (class of 2003) and Dennis Walcott (class of 2009). Both of them faced criticism for their top-down management style, their reliance on standardized testing and data, their promotion of charter schools and school closures, and their clashes with teachers' unions and parents  . The department has also faced controversy for its lack of transparency, accountability, and oversight, as well as its negative impacts on student outcomes, teacher retention, and school finances .

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Public-Sector Leadership and Venture Philanthropy: The Case of Broad .... https://cepa.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/wp20-06-v072020.pdf.

(2) Public-Sector Leadership and Venture Philanthropy: The Case of Broad .... https://cepa.stanford.edu/content/public-sector-leadership-and-venture-philanthropy-case-broad-superintendents.

(3) The Broad Foundation – Seattle Education. https://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/race-to-the-top/the-broad-foundation/.

(4) AASA | American Association of School Administrators. https://www.aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=6636.

According to the Broad Center website, there are currently 71 Broad Superintendent Academy graduates who are serving as superintendents or chief executives of local and state school systems ¹. The state that has the most Broad graduates in these positions is California, with 14, followed by Texas, with 9, and New York, with 6 ¹. Some of the districts that have employed Broad graduates as superintendents or chief executives are:

  • - Atlanta Public Schools (Lisa Herring, class of 2015)
  • - Baltimore City Public Schools (Sonja Santelises, class of 2010)
  • - Boston Public Schools (Brenda Cassellius, class of 2012)
  • - Chicago Public Schools (Janice Jackson, class of 2016)
  • - Denver Public Schools (Susana Cordova, class of 2008)
  • - District of Columbia Public Schools (Lewis Ferebee, class of 2012)
  • - Houston Independent School District (Mike Miles, class of 2006)
  • - Los Angeles Unified School District (Austin Beutner, class of 2015)
  • - New York State Education Department (Betty Rosa, class of 2009)
  • - Philadelphia School District (William Hite, class of 2005)

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Meet the Broad Superintendents | Diane Ravitch's blog. https://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/15/meet-the-broad-superintendents/.

(2) Broad Superintendents Academy Graduates New Class. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/broad-superintendents-academy-graduates-new-class.

(3) Criticism Grows Louder as Broad Superintendent Academy Expands .... https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/criticism-grows-louder-as-broad-superintendent-academy-expands-influence.

That is a claim that has been made by some critics of the Broad Superintendent Academy and its graduates, who argue that they promote a market-based and disruptive approach to education reform that undermines local democracy, destabilizes communities, and favors privatization over public investment. Some critics also question the qualifications and experience of the people that Broad graduates hire or appoint, who often come from non-educational backgrounds or have ties to the Broad Foundation or other reform organizations  .

However, that is not the stated goal or intention of the Broad Superintendent Academy, according to its website and publications. The program claims to prepare leaders who can improve public education for all students, especially those from underserved communities. The program also claims to provide support and networking opportunities for its graduates and their teams, as well as posting job openings for leadership positions in urban school systems on its website . The program says that it does not dictate or endorse any specific policies or practices for its graduates or their districts .

There is evidence that Broad and other supporters of privatization have contributed large sums of money to shape school boards and media to further their goals of privatization. Some examples are:

  • - The Broad Foundation has donated millions of dollars to various organizations that advocate for charter schools, vouchers, and other forms of school choice, such as the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the American Federation for Children, and the Center for Education Reform ¹. The foundation has also funded research and advocacy for academy schools in England, which are similar to charter schools in the United States ².
  • - The Walton Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the family that owns Walmart, has spent more than $1 billion on education reform since 2000, most of it on expanding charter schools and vouchers ³. The foundation has also supported candidates and campaigns that favor school choice, such as the 2017 Los Angeles school board election, where it spent more than $2 million to back pro-charter candidates .
  • - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest private foundation in the world, has invested billions of dollars in education reform initiatives, such as the Common Core State Standards, teacher evaluation systems, and personalized learning . The foundation has also funded media outlets that cover education issues, such as Education Week, Chalkbeat, and The 74 .

Bing, 7/8/2023

(1) Privatization of public education gaining ground -- report - The .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/04/18/privatization-of-public-education-gaining-ground/.

(2) What and who are fueling the movement to privatize public education .... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/05/30/what-and-who-is-fueling-the-movement-to-privatize-public-education-and-why-you-should-care/.

(3) Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools - Dissent Magazine. https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/got-dough-how-billionaires-rule-our-schools.

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