Contracting for Classroom Services.Are you prepared to assess the growing variety of private-sector providers of educational services and programs? We'll do what's best for kids. School administrators often express that conviction. So what's best for kids when a school management company or private-practice educators knock at your schoolhouse door saying, "We can help meet the children's needs?" Would you be willing to contract with private providers for educational services? Savvy superintendents are disentangling themselves from the persistent debates about privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned , market-based reform and for-profit companies. Why? Because they understand that contracting is a delivery system option that may benefit students. Doing what's best for students is not just a slogan for these progressive leaders of public schools. These leaders also know that administering a purchase-of-services system will require new, yet-to-be-learned skills. Policies and Protocols Increasingly, school officials are authorizing, chartering and contracting with for-profit and not-for-profit organizations to operate entire schools or defined parts of the educational program. Edison Schools Edison Schools Inc. is a for-profit company that manages public schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1992. History Edison Schools was widely hailed at the beginning of the 21st century as the leader in what "school reformers" saw as the manages 79 schools across the country with plans to assume operation of many more this fall. Of Edison's 79 schools, 55 are contracted with a public school board. Of these 55, 19 are district-issued charter schools and 36 are traditional public schools. The 24 remaining schools Edison manages are independent charter schools. Sylvan Learning Sylvan Learning (formerly Sylvan Learning Center) is a chain of franchised tutoring centers which provide personalized tutoring in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. operates their learning centers in 117 schools funded primarily under Title I. Success Lab contracts with 18 Chicago public schools Chicago Public Schools, commonly abbreviated as CPS by local residents and politicians, is a school district that controls over 600 public elementary and high schools in Chicago, Illinois. to deliver reading programs under Title I. More than 100 school districts contract with companies such as Ombudsman ombudsman (äm`bədzmən) [Swed.,=agent or representative], public official appointed to deal with individual complaints against government acts. Educational Services and Richard Milburn High School for the education of at-risk students The term at-risk students is used to describe students who are "at risk" of failing academically, for one or more of any several reasons. The term can be used to describe a wide variety of students, including,
Superintendents typically don't receive formal training in administering procurement systems. But a wealth of knowledge and practice is close at hand. County governments in many states contract with community-based organizations to provide human services to the elderly and persons with disabilities. Hospitals and municipalities have long contracted for basic services basic services, n.pl frequently insurance companies split dental procedures into basic and major categories. Basic services usually consist of diagnostic, preventive, and routine restorative dental services. . Most of these buyers of private-sector services have developed policies and protocols for requesting proposals, administering contracts and ensuring the desired results. While buying such services may be a new phenomenon in public education, it is by no means a unique or mysterious process. In addition, contracting for educational services provides superintendents with the ability to hold those performing the service accountable to agreed upon Adj. 1. agreed upon - constituted or contracted by stipulation or agreement; "stipulatory obligations" stipulatory noncontroversial, uncontroversial - not likely to arouse controversy performance expectations. Such accountability is nearly nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non in the current ways of operating school districts. Criteria to Evaluate You can take the initiative to put in place systems for procuring educational services. By doing so, your power to effect improvements for students can be significantly enhanced. As you develop a system for buying services from outsiders, you'll want to consider the following factors: * Performance criteria. Has your school district developed clear and measurable standards of student performance? How will your request for proposals specify your student performance expectations? How will you state the contractual obligations of the private provider regarding student performance, reporting results and modifying practices during the contract term? Can the school board cancel the contract in mid-term for failure to meet performance standards? What performance criteria will apply when deciding whether to renew or not renew the contract? * Legal issues. Does the school board have the statutory authority under state law to contract with private providers for educational services? Does the collective bargaining agreement The contractual agreement between an employer and a Labor Union that governs wages, hours, and working conditions for employees and which can be enforced against both the employer and the union for failure to comply with its terms. with the teachers union restrict or prohibit the school board from contracting for services? Does the state law impose any bargaining obligations before the board can proceed with contracting? Has your attorney developed a contract form that clearly states the obligations of both parties? * Cost and efficiency analysis. What will be the direct and indirect costs Indirect costs are costs that are not directly accountable to a particular function or product; these are fixed costs. Indirect costs include taxes, administration, personnel and security costs. See also
* Contractor evaluation criteria. What is the contractor's experience and reputation? What is the financial condition of the contractor? What procedures have others used to monitor the contractor's performance? Who are the contractor's current and former clients? How is the contractor best equipped to accomplish the objectives that you've identified? Does the contractor have in force the appropriate licenses, certifications and insurance? * Political and public policy considerations. What are the political realities and barriers to developing a purchase-of-services system? How will the essential features of the public system be maintained or enhanced when contracting for services? How will you address issues of staff morale, parental support and community acceptance? Broader Options For decades, the traditional structure of public schools was a given--an unchanging un·chang·ing adj. Remaining the same; showing or undergoing no change: unchanging weather patterns; unchanging friendliness. , input-driven state bureaucracy. That system searched for and found the one right or best way and applied it throughout. Recently, there's been a shift in thinking about schools. The new thinking is described by words such as choice, quality alternatives, site-based accountability, individual learning styles, standards and assessments and performance-based learning. How does the contracting option fit the new paradigm New Paradigm In the investing world, a totally new way of doing things that has a huge effect on business. Notes: The word "paradigm" is defined as a pattern or model, and it has been used in science to refer to a theoretical framework. ? It doesn't mean an isolated contract with one company to operate one school. Rather, as school officials develop their district's purchase-of-service capabilities, they'll want to think about the broader challenges and opportunities: * How are you getting your community ready for multiple philosophical options each operating at high standards of quality? * Are you soliciting proposals regularly from parents, teachers, youth and others for new charter schools? * Have you thought about forming a new schools incubator incubator, apparatus for the maintenance of controlled conditions in which eggs can be hatched artificially. Incubator houses with double walls of mud, a fireroom, and several compartments each holding about 6,000 hens' eggs were developed in ancient times; the that will allow educators to design a public school they've always dreamed about? * What would it take to create a client-driven learning system where each student and family in your district can choose from an array of learning options? The emerging education industry of companies, private practices of educators and Internet tutors is a reality. It is creating an explosion of entrepreneurial activity. A growing number of philanthropists and policymakers view the education entrepreneurs and competitive markets as instruments of education reform. As a school leader, you shouldn't wait for the new providers to come knocking. You can begin creating a climate in your community that supports new school choices, high standards of quality and a self-improving system. Thinking and acting outside the box will allow school leaders to seize new opportunities to better serve students. It also will mean revisiting and redefining the enduring challenges of education-effectiveness, efficiency, liberty and equity. In the interests of students, go for it. John Mclaughlin John McLaughlin is the name of:
Additional Resources Selected resources on private-sector involvement in public education, compiled with the assistance of John McLaughlin: Association of Educators in Private Practice (104 W. Main St., Suite 101, P.O. Box 348, Watertown, Wis. 53094-0348, www.aepp.org) represents individuals and small firms with products and services for elementary and secondary schools. International Academy for Educational Entrepreneurship (21 Silk Oak silk oak n. An Australian evergreen tree (Grevillea robusta) having divided fernlike leaves and showy one-sided clusters of orange flowers. Noun 1. Circle, San Rafael San Rafael (săn rəfĕl`), residential city (1990 pop. 48,404), seat of Marin co., W Calif., a suburb of San Francisco on the northern shore of San Francisco Bay; inc. 1913. , Calif. 94901). Run by two former superintendents The John McLaughlin Co. (122 S. Phillips Ave., Suite 200, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57104; www.mclaughlincompany.com) advises companies regarding private-sector activities in K- 12 and higher education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. . National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education (Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (sometimes referred to simply as Teachers College; also referred to as Teachers College of Columbia University or the Columbia University Graduate School of Education , 525 W. 120th St., Box 181, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , N.Y. 10027). An independent research center, directed by Professor Henry Levin "Guidelines for Contracting With Private Providers for Educational Services," published by AASA AASA American Association of School Administrators AASA Asian American Student Association AASA Association of Academies of Sciences in Asia AASA Aging and Adult Services Administration AASA Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army . Available from AASA Online (www.aasa.org) or AASA Publications Warehouse, 888-PUB-AASA or 301-617-7802 |
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