Private Money Pays for New Mich. District for Low-Performing Schools

Michigan is starting the country’s first public-school district paid for primarily by private contributions in a bid to improve performance at the state’s lowest-rated schools, according to the Detroit Free Press.

About $2-million has been donated to start the Education Achievement Authority, a statewide grouping of poorly performing elementary and secondary institutions.

The Broad Foundation, one of the nation’s most active education philanthropies, has contributed $400,000 and expects to give $500,000 more by the end of the year. John Covington, a former Kansas City, Mo., superintendent tapped to lead the new authority, attended the foundation’s training program for urban schools leaders.

State officials declined to name other donors to the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation, which will handle private finances for the authority. The state will eventually provide money to the district, but Roy Roberts, chairman of the authority’s board, said it does not have available funds for the effort now.

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