When a Chicago study came out last year, reporting that students who were displaced by Ren10 school closures didn't learn more if they were reassigned to similarly low performing schools, there was mega hand-wringing and lots of "I-told-you-sos" from opponents of closures. Forget that the study showed that displaced students did learn more when reassigned to higher performing schools or that a Denver analysis showed that closures there were improving student learning, closure opponents thought they had won the battle.
Enter some thoughtful administration. Rather than throwing away the closure option, Chicago schools CEO Ron Huberman learned from previous efforts and adjusted the strategy. Now, all kids displaced by closures will have access to higher performing options.
Not brain surgery for sure, but certainly a positive response to evidence and a laudable commitment to figuring out how to make the portfolio strategy work.