PHILADELPHIA, PA --  In a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education, John P. Higgins, Jr., Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) called for a review of the process that resulted in Edison Schools, Inc., being selected to run some of Philadelphia’s public schools. City schools receive millions of dollars from the federal government.

“As a Member of Congress representing Philadelphia, I am requesting a review of the process that selected Edison Schools, Inc., to run a number of schools here.   Specifically, it should be determined: if the process was open and competitive; whether Edison schools improperly conspired with state officials to corrupt the selection and contracting process of the SRC; whether there was any improper interference in the selection process by state officials, including intimidation and threats to withhold additional state dollars; and if there were threats to dilute the power of the SRC or replace members of the Commission who disagreed with the State,” Fattah wrote in the letter.

Congressman Fattah also questioned the state’s hand in the actual contract negotiations writing, “attempts to improperly influence the terms of the proposed contract with Edison, including the length of years and payment amount, are questionable and appear almost extortion-like. “