Perhaps the hardest job in education reform today is turning around big, long-failing high schools. The academic deficits are larger and the psycho-behavioral hurdles are bigger than in the lower grades.

While the country (or at least me) waits on the edge of its seat for results from GreenDot's take over of Locke High School in Los Angeles's Watts neighborhood, the Washington Post profiles two groups, Friendship Public Charter Schools and Friends of Bedford,  tasked with taking over some of DC's most notoriously troubled high schools.

If you're into the politics of media, check out the lack of quotes from Michelle Rhee. And if you're really into the politics, check out the similar lack of quotes from Tom Nida, who heads the board that currently oversees Friendship Public Charter Schools in DC. And if you're really really into the politics, try to find out how much Rhee and Nida talked to each other about this (really important) stuff.