Education Management Companies

The 1990s were a period of rapid expansion for the "education industry." One of the fastest growing segments of this industry is company that manages public schools, particularly charter schools, for profit.  Industry watchers have coined the term "Education Management Organization," or EMO, to describe these companies, and the comparison to HMOs seems accurate to both proponents and critics. The charter school movement has been a boom for  EMOs. The first charter school law was passed in Minnesota in 1991. Currently, more than 41 states with charter school laws permit the charter holder to be a for-profit firm or allow the charter holder to subcontract with for-profit firms for management assistance or total school management.

The educational management service providers offer the charter school industry a broad range of options to public charter schools seeking such services. Services offered by each management firm can be loosely grouped under four general headings: 1) comprehensive management services 2) customized management services 3) selective school management services or "made-to-order"  and 4) franchise and/or franchise model development services.

1) Universal Education Management Company (UEMC)

     Baltimore, Maryland

     Telephone: 410-581-1373

     Email: UMEC@charterschooldevelopment.com

     Website:http://www.charterschooldevelopment.com/universal

2) USA Charter School Development Center  

     Owings Mills, Maryland

     Telephone: 410-581-1373

     Email: usachartercenter@charterschooldevelopment.com

     Website:http://www.charterschooldevelopment.com/universal