A reform for troubled times: Takeovers of urban schools

Increasing pressure to improve low-performing schools-particularly those in central cities serving disadvantaged and minority students-has led to a ho st of reform efforts. This article focuses on a strategy that involves take overs of troubled schools or entire systems by mayors, state legislatures, or control boards. Following the takeover of the Jersey City, New Jersey, s chools in 1989, at least partial control of schools has been taken from ele cted boards in Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., and Detroit . Discussed in this article are some of the major issues involved with take overs, including arguments for and against the practice, the policy questio ns it raises, and the all-important role race has played in the debate. The authors close with thoughts for evaluating the effectiveness of this incre asingly popular, yet unproven, attempt at reforming low-achieving schools.