State of Massachusetts takes over Lawrence district

From The Boston Globe: The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a state takeover of the troubled Lawrence school system, citing chronic declines in student performance, a low graduation rate and “ineffective leadership.’’ Lawrence has been designated a “chronically underperforming’’ district, giving Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester the authority to appoint a receiver to run the city’s schools. Lawrence would be the first failing school district to be placed under direct state control under a law passed last year.