A man who was once a critic of the district will now serve as the director of the expanded Charter Schools Office with Detroit Public Schools.
DPS Emergency Financial Manager Roy Roberts announced the appointment of Doug Ross Wednesday afternoon.
Ross is founder and CEO of New Urban Learning and University Prep charter school, which are among the highest-performing charter schools in Detroit. He is also a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Ross said he goal is quality.
“The first thing is to make sure that those charters that the city has or has just brought online are worth of Detroit children, that they’re top-notch,” he said.
“And, if they’re not, then ultimately the beauty of charters is it’s a temporary contract you have to keep earning. And, if you don’t earn it, you lose the contract to run the school,” Ross said.
DPS has expanded its charter schools from nine to 14 for the coming fall semester.
