Thursday, June 16, 2011

Whether or Not You Want Achievement First in the State is Irrelevant

Elizabeth Harrison:

Education Commissioner Deborah Gist is speaking out in support of Achievement First, the charter management organization whose application to enter Rhode Island has been the subject of controversy.

Gist says her staff recruited the company for the Ocean State.

“We wanted them to apply,” Gist said, pointing to a record of stellar test scores at the group’s Connecticut schools. “We sought them out, and they are a school that we would be very fortunate to have in our state.”

That's an interesting point of view, but it should be irrelevant, because the real question is whether or not the school is a good fit for Cranston and Providence. A serious case hasn't been made for AF's benefit to Cranston, and a potentially unstable partner in Cranston is a bad deal for Providence.

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