Philadelphia schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman has revealed the first step of her plan to remake the city's public schools and it includes a heavy dose of outsourcing. Of the low-performing schools Ackerman named Tuesday (March 30) as Renaissance schools, nine will be handed over to outside operators, most likely charters companies. Five other schools will become what Ackerman calls Promise Academies and will be run directly out of the superintendent's office. It will mean a big shift in staff at the schools, with most of the teachers currently working at them being transferred out. The list was a surprise because of the large number of outside operators who will be given schools to run.
