Among Detroit’s many problems: a public school system so deep in debt that last year, the state took it over. Michigan’s governor hired Robert Bobb, a former city manager, to close the $316 million deficit, but Bobb hasn’t restricted his attention to money matters.
Just 3% of Detroit’s fourth graders scored proficient in math on a national test last year, and Bobb says he intends to do something about it. He hired a curriculum expert, and planned for school mergers and redesigns, even a school that would house pre-kindergarten through community college students. But he has a problem - Detroit still has an elected school board, and they say they control academics, not Bobb.
This program is made possible by the following funders:
Grade Level Reading Fund of the Tides Foundation, The Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki Foundation, The Wallace Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
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John Merrow With Robert Bobb
John Merrow talks with Robert C. Bobb about the inherent challenges of turning around the Detroit school system. Listen to the story.
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May 5, 2010 at 11:56 am
Dennis Schapiro says:
Migod! A school board. It’s as if they think they’re living in a republic or democracy.