Tim Knowles Calls for New Community College, Vigilance on Charters


After 13 years, Tim Knowles is stepping down as chairman of the University of Chicago’s influential Urban Education Institute.

Knowles has recently been pushing for a new community college to be built next to the site of the Obama Presidential Library. He says it could be the crown jewel of the city’s community college system and give lower-income students a better shot at making it to a four-year college.

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He’s also called for school districts to be more aggressive about closing failing charter schools and says that in general, charter schools should be on what he calls a “short leash.”

Knowles, who previously served as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning at Boston Public Schools, joins host Phil Ponce to share his insights on education.


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