Few Mysteries At Thursday's Hearing NCLB Hearing
Looking at the witness list for Thursday's HELP committee hearing, there aren't a lot of mysteries.
In particular, Chicago's Hosanna Mahaley Johnson, head of the new schools office (and oft-rumored successor to Arne Duncan), is almost certain to support the USDE proposal to bypass state charter caps and allow more conversions.
Under Renaissance 2010, the district's current school turnaround effort, a slew of schools have been closed and opened -- probably more accountability-based closures than anywhere else in the nation -- but the charter cap for the city is stuck at 30 so they can close all they want but can't open charters, which a lot of folks seem to prefer.
Interesting, too, that Mayor Daley sends Mahaley Johnson, not Duncan, and that he has apparently called a halt on school closings this year until after the primary this month. Check District 299 for all the latest on Chicago schools.
