Paul T. Hill, Kelly Warner-King, Christine Campbell, Meaghan McElroy, Isabel Mu??oz-Col??n, The Center on Reinventing Public Education, The University of Washington
December 2002
Paul Hill and colleagues at the University of Washington's Center on Reinventing Public Education authored this 28-page report, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Several of its points parallel those that Hill set forth in a recent paper for the Progressive Policy Institute. [See http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=10#360.] Some are different, however, and they're well worth your time, for this paper's implications are far-reaching indeed. Beginning with the unarguable assertion that many of today's urban school boards are dysfunctional, ineffectual and afflicted with "mission confusion," Hill & Co. offer three bold remedies. First, broaden the board's constituencies (via district-wide election or mayoral appointment) to reduce the extent to which members are beholden to narrow interests. Second, limit their powers to policy and oversight, getting them out of day-to-day management and patronage. Third, and most revolutionary, end their exclusive franchise to oversee schools in their areas--and add additional public-school sponsors via multiple boards or other "entities" that will engender competition and choice. The package is striking. You can find it at http://www.crpe.org/pubs/pdf/schoolBoard_Final.pdf.
