Los Angeles Schools: Epic Fail?

Beverly Hills - Former Washington DC public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee brought her message of education reform to Southern California... and she didn't give Los Angeles area schools a passing grade.

FOX 11's Gigi Graciette speaks to Rhee about our schools in the video report.

Story Script:

MICHELLE RHEE
"EDUCATION HAS BECOME INCREDIBLY POLITICIZED. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE POLITICS AND VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE CHILDREN"

THE CHILDREN ARE WHERE THE NATION'S FOCUS MUST BE, SAYS MICHELLE RHEE.

THE FORMER CHANCELLOR OF WASHINGTON DC'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN BEVERLY HILLS WASD A GUEST SPEAKER FOR USC'S CENTER OF PHILANTROPY AND PUBLIC POLICY TALKING ABOUT HOW TO FIX A SYSTEM SHE SAYS IS BROKEN.

MICHELLE RHEE
"CONTRARY TO WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET, THERE IS NO ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO. YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE SCHOLLS THAT HAVE GREAT PRINCIPALS, REALLY GOOD LEADERS THAT ARE BUILDING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE WONDERFUL TEACHERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR CHILDREN EVERYDAY."

RHEE, WHO NOW WORKS FULLTIME ON EDUCATION REFORM THRU HER GROUP STUDENTS FIRST, POINTS TO CALIFORNIA AS A STATE THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE... STARTING WITH THE LAW THAT MANDATES TEACHERS BE LAID OFF BY SENIORITY.

MICHELLE RHEE
"WHEN YOU LAY TEACHERS OFF BY SENIORITY INSTEAD OF QUALITY IT HAS VERY DERIMENTAL IMPACTS ON KIDS, YOU END UP, ONE FIRING SOME OF YOUR BEST TEACHERS."

RHEE IS AN ADVOCATE FOR BETTER TEACHER EVALUATIONS, MERIT PAY AND GIVING PARENTS A STRONGER VOICE IN THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. SHE STRONGLY SUPPORTS CALIFORNIA'S PARENT TRIGGER LAW.

MICHELLE RHEE
"WE HAVE TO EMPOWER PARENTS. THERE ARE TOO MANY PARENTS AND FAMILIES WHERE THEY'RE CHILDREN ARE TRAPPED IN FAILING SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A MECHANISM THRU WHICH THEY CAN SAY THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FORCE A CHANGE"

AS FOR SCHOOLS HERE, RHEE SAYS SHE'S OPTIMISTIC... CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.

GIGI GRACIETTE
"GIVE ME A GRADE FOR LA SCHOOLS... A,B,C,D,E,F?"

MICHELLE RHEE
"I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. HOW ABOUT THAT?"