The new chancellor of Michigan's Education Achievement Authority is defending his record in the Kansas City School District after Missouri education officials revoked the district's accreditation.

John Covington was hired for the Michigan job in August. He said
in a statement to the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News that
Tuesday's decision by the Missouri State Board of Education was
years in the making and reforms he helped put in place are taking
root.

Covington says he's confident the district will be able to regain accreditation.

In Michigan, the authority will operate a new statewide school
district for Michigan's neediest schools in Detroit and elsewhere.

Sara Wurfel, spokeswoman for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, said in
a statement Wednesday that Covington "is the very best available leader" for the system.