Charter School Ousts Board, Alarms Parents and Teachers

Changes in management at a charter school in Brooklyn demonstrate the perils of mixing philanthropy and public education, reports The New York Times.

The Beginning With Children Charter School has helped many black and Hispanic students raise test scores, the newspaper says. But Joseph H. and Carol F. Reich, who founded the school and remain its largest patrons, thought the school should cater to individual children, not drill them for tests.

The Reichs threatened to withdraw money unless the trustees resigned and the school altered its management. The school did, but the moves upset parents and teachers, who feared losing control over children’s educations.

The article notes that charter schools often face such problems, since they receive both state money and contributions from donors who have their own ideas.

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