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Exploring Michelle Rhee's Education Reforms

May 25, 2025

The Education of Michelle Rhee

Overview

  • Documentary Title: The Education of Michelle Rhee
  • Platform: FRONTLINE on PBS
  • Episode: Season 2013, Episode 2
  • Duration: 53 minutes
  • Air Date: January 8, 2013
  • Produced by: Michael Joseloff
  • Correspondent: John Merrow

Key Focus

  • The documentary provides an in-depth look at Michelle Rhee, the former chancellor of the Washington, DC public schools.
  • Focuses on her efforts to reform a failing school system.
  • FRONTLINE had unprecedented access to Michelle Rhee throughout this process.

Main Themes

  1. Education Reform:

    • Examines the initiatives taken by Michelle Rhee to improve the public school system.
    • Delves into the challenges faced in implementing educational reforms.
  2. Controversial Reforms:

    • Discussion on Rhee's controversial methods and how they affected the DC school system.
    • Includes both support and criticism from various stakeholders in the education sector.
  3. Leadership and Change:

    • Insights into Rhee's leadership style and decision-making process.
    • Evaluates the successes and failures of her tenure as chancellor.

Related Content and Discussions

  • Live Chat Discussions:

    • A live chat was scheduled to discuss Rhee's reforms with John Merrow and other experts.
  • Articles and Analyses:

    • Articles exploring the legacy of Michelle Rheeโ€™s reforms and their impact on education.
    • Topics include assessing educational success, post-Rhee developments in DC schools, and the broader debate on education reform in America.

Support and Funding for FRONTLINE

  • Funding comes from PBS viewers, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Abrams Foundation, Park Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund.

Additional Resources

  • Access to transcripts, credits, and related documentaries is available on the official PBS FRONTLINE page.

Conclusion

  • The documentary aims to provide a comprehensive view of the efforts and implications of Michelle Rhee's tenure in DC public schools, highlighting broader issues in educational reform.