Detroit Seeks Help for 17 Low-Performing Schools

DETROIT (AP) - The emergency financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools district has announced plans to let four educational management businesses help turn around 17 of its lowest-performing high schools.

Robert Bobb announced the plans Friday.

The district will be working with New York-based Edison Learning, Cincinnati-based EdWorks, New York-based Institute for Student Achievement, and Bellevue, Wash.-based Model Secondary Schools Project.

They will get performance-based, multiyear contracts.

The announcement came a day after lawyers and a former federal bankruptcy judge met with Bobb to debate the possibility of bankruptcy as Michigan's largest school district tries to erase a current budget deficit of nearly $260 million.