Vote could open 250 L.A. schools to outside operators

Source:  By Howard Blume and Jason Song, Los Angeles Times (CA), 11:16 PM PDT, August 25, 2009

In a startling acknowledgment that the Los Angeles school system cannot improve enough schools on its own, the city Board of Education approved a plan Tuesday that could turn over 250 campuses -- including 50 new multimillion-dollar facilities -- to charter groups and other outside operators. ..... For the charter school operators, the biggest prize is 50 new schools scheduled to open over the next four years. ...... Charters are publicly funded but independently operated and free from some regulations governing the traditional administration of schools. They also are not required to be unionized.