RAND: Edison schools' outcomes 'not certain'

Parents Advocating School Accountability, San Francisco

The respected RAND research organization, which was paid by Edison Schools to do a multi-year study of the controversial, for-profit school management company, today issued its long-delayed report, which pointedly refrains from recommending Edison as a solution for school districts.

Although Edison reportedly had input into how RAND presented the study results, some of the most telling comments in the report summary are less than glowing.

"…[W]e cannot make strong predictions for prospective clients about whether they will achieve better long-term results with Edison or with an alternate approach," the report acknowledges. And it adds: "Whether Edison’s average achievement effects ultimately exceed those of comparison schools is not certain."

RAND’s language in the report could be best described as lukewarm, especially given that Edison paid for the study. "[T}here is some weak evidence that Edison’s effectiveness as an organization might have improved over time," the report offered.

The 292-page report, originally due for release in 2003, decisively shows that the number of schools Edison manages has fallen significantly. Edison uses inflated, conflicting and murky figures on its website and in other materials that often mislead researchers. The RAND report states that Edison has managed a total of 140 schools at some point in its 12-year history and that it currently manages 103.

The report also relies on data from numerous schools that Edison no longer manages, in at least 11 school districts that have canceled contracts with Edison.

Parents Advocating School Accountability will provide further updates on the RAND report shortly.

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