Education Week

The decision to close schools is wrenching: educationally, politically, and emotionally. It's full of possible perils for those impacted by the closures and those making the decisions to close schools.

Example 1: Chicago in 2013, and the months of recriminations that preceded and followed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision to shutter nearly 50 neighborhood schools deemed by the city and school administration to be under-performing and under-enrolled.

Example 2: Philadelphia in 2013, and the school board's vote to close 23 schools to get a handle on a gaping budget deficit, followed by profound community dissatisfaction that still lingers...