How to clean up D.C. schools

By Robert E. Frye,
Springfield

I was excited to read Andrew J. Rotherham’s Sept..5 Outlook commentary, “Tough reforms, tougher politics.” I was educated in D.C. public schools and, as a minority at-large member and chairman of the Fairfax County School Board, I have fought hard for a faster pace of school reform. It would be tragic to lose the momentum that D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee has established.

As Mr. Rotherham noted, bringing about effective reform is hard work and may not be politically popular. But for the District to be a world-class city, it must make major improvements in its public schools. In approaching the primary elections, voters should consider this fact, as well as the time it would take to select a new chancellor. No matter how talented that person might be, the knowledge of what happened to Ms. Rhee would surely constrain any successor. Reform must not be delayed. Every school year is important to every child.