The Next L.A. / Reinventing Our Future : Education : IDEA FILE: Self-Governing Schools

How It Works: A school would receive a lump sum annually, based on the number of students and allowed to operate in any way its educators, probably with parents’ participation, believed was best. Clear performance goals, set and overseen by the state or district, would be used to measure the school’s effectiveness.

Benefits: Schools would be free from most time- and budget-consuming regulations and paperwork and could custom-design programs and activities based on the needs of their own students, much as most private schools do today.

Short-Term or Long-Term Impact?: Medium term.

Supporters: Such a system is already being tried on a limited basis under California’s fledgling “charter schools” program. There is growing consensus among experts that school autonomy would foster greater creativity in teaching and stronger student enthusiasm and achievement. It could also make better use of the dwindling funds available for public education.

Opponents: If there is no good system for holding schools responsible for results, the system could produce a series of school failures. Initially at least, it would require a great deal more work on the part of faculty and more participation from parents.

The Costs: Self-run schools would cost no more to operate, and possibly less, than traditional ones. Would heighten the importance of developing a good system for evaluating results. It also could threaten the gains of employee unions if each school were allowed to negotiate its own contracts.

REALITY CHECK: Likely.