Supports and Challenges in the Multiple Provider Model: Principals Offer Mixed Perspectives on First Year of Takeover

This article, based on interviews with principals from schools undergoing reform interventions under state takeover, offers these principals’ perspectives on the first school year under the new ‘multiple provider model.’ RFA researchers interviewed twenty principals from schools managed either by external EMOs or the District’s Office of Restructured Schools (ORS), as well as representatives from the District and the EMOs. A primary finding was that communications and decision-making became both complicated and confusing. Many principals felt like they were ‘serving two masters,’ which resulted in both duplication of tasks and inconsistent or missing information. Developing a clear system for coordinating communication among the many players in this complex management model remains a major challenge for the District. Principals held varying views, ranging from positive through mixed to negative, on changes brought by new management in curriculum, professional development, assessment, and student support. Most reported benefiting from new instructional materials or technology. According to principals of schools under private EMOs, some benefited from reductions in class size, but suffered from staffing cuts which eliminated NTAs (non-teaching assistants), assistant principals, intern teachers, and librarians. The article reports that RFA will continue its research with in-depth case studies of a smaller number of schools to follow the course of reforms over the next school year.