Dive Brief:
- For the last two years, Atlanta Public Schools Supt. Meria Carstarphen has tried to engage the greater Atlanta community with transparency, accessibility and a more child-centric approach.
- It's still unclear whether a state takeover of the district will happen, but five of the district's 15 schools that need to be turned around are slated to be run by charter operators.
- Carstarphen tells District Administration that one of her main goals is to rebuild trust with students affected by the district's cheating scandal.
Dive Insight:
Meria Carstarphen's approach in Atlanta is one that Los Angeles Superintendent Michelle King may want to track closely. Though both urban districts are markedly different, they also share serious problems around community trust, engagement and poor-performing schools. Carstarphen's approach is reportedly more hands-on than King's, and according to District Administration, the community she serves seems to be satisfied with her performance two years into her tenure.
Meanwhile, Carstarphen's plan to partner with private business also is worthy of note. She also proposed shutting down some failing schools, a tactic that has been proven to work. So have ideas like the establishment of "innovation zone" schools, something Tennessee has recently seen success with.
Last spring, a report by Georgia State University researchers found that the test-cheating scandal and resulting convictions will indeed have long-term effects, including a negative impact on reading and ELA performance. Carstarphen has tried to help by commissioning a report on those consequences, earmarking $5 million for special enrichment and remediation, and implementing individualized learning plans for students.