18 companies apply to DPS to convert Detroit schools into charters

BY CHASTITY PRATT DAWSEY

The ambitious plan to convert as many as 45 Detroit Public Schools to charter schools by the fall has attracted the attention of 18 local and national companies, school officials announced today.

The DPS Renaisssance 2012 plan seeks to downsize the district in the face of a growing $327 million deficit and prediction of continued declining enrollment.

Working with the the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, DPS put out bids to find charter school management companies that have experience running high-achieving schools. The converted charter schools would be authorized by DPS.

"We are pleased with the broad experience of many of the organizations that applied and their potential to transform academically-challenged schools," said Robert Bobb, emergency manager for DPS. 

He added that he would consider the ambitious plan a success if five schools were converted to charters by fall, while others could be converted in 2012. There are 18 schools that Bobb wants to convert to charter that would close in June if no charter operator is identified.

The companies interested in running charter schools for DPS include a few that have run some well-performing charter schools as well as companies that have run schools that were shut down due to poor performance. 

The charter school operators will be selected and announced in mid-June Bobb said.

By law, any parent, teacher, group or entity may apply for a charter except for a church.

Michigan law permits charter school boards to contract with for-profit service providers – called management companies - for various school staffing and administrative functions. 

DPS is currently seeking and training Detroit residents who to serve on the school board for the proposed charter schools.

The school boards, by law, are supposed to hire, direct, oversee and if, necessary, fire the management companies. 

About two‐thirds of all charter schools have contracted with a management company, according to the Michigan Department of Education.