WASHINGTON (AP) - An Illinois company with close ties to the charter school movement has been commissioned by the Gray administration to study public education in the District of Columbia.

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The Washington Post reports that the analysis by the Illinois Facilities Fund will be used to guide what could become a significant round of school closures next year. The city has more than 40 traditional schools with fewer than 300 students apiece.

Chancellor Kaya Henderson said the study could be a "game changer" and that it could lead to a smaller traditional public school system and more charter schools.

Under former mayor Adrian M. Fenty, the district's school reform effort was heavily focused on traditional schools. About 40 percent of the 75,000 D.C. public school students attend charter schools.

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Information from: http://www.washingtonpost.com