This year's suitors

In February, the District selected six "turnaround teams" to compete to manage the four new Renaissance charter schools.

American Paradigm – A Philadelphia-based educational management organization (EMO) formed last year. American Paradigm has no experience doing school turnarounds. Its founders are associated with local charters First Philadelphia and Tacony Academy.

Mastery Charter Schools – The largest charter operator in Philadelphia, Mastery currently runs 10 schools, including five Renaissance charters.

Mosaica Turnaround Partners – The only for-profit company competing for schools this year, Mosaica operates dozens of schools in nine states and Washington, D.C. Last year, Mosaica was awarded management rights to its first Renaissance charter, Birney Elementary.

Scholar Academies – Awarded Frederick Douglass Elementary in the first year of the Renaissance initiative, the group also operates a traditional charter here and one in Washington, D.C.

String Theory – A new player in the Renaissance initiative, String Theory is a local EMO associated with the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School.

Universal Companies – A full-service community development organization, Universal manages a traditional charter school, two standard Renaissance charters, and two Promise Neighborhood Partnership charter schools here.