When the state of Pennsylvania took over the failing School District of Philadelphia (SDP) in 2001 and gave the reigns to then Philadelphia mayor Street, the goal was to improve student performance. The governor at the time, Ridge, envisioned a more diverse school system with school management outsourced to such EMOs (Education Management Organizations) such as Edison Schools, now Edison Learning. Despite the fact that Edison Schools, a for-profit education company, had no background in evaluating school districts, Governor Ridge paid Edison Schools Incorporated, now Edison Learning, $2.7 million to do an evaluative study of the SDP. Additionally, Edison wrote a report of recommendations which included giving failing contracts to an EMO. And not surprisingly, the majority of those failing schools that Pennsylvania did turn into charters became Edison Schools. Studies show modest improvement in student performance.
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