Clinton to visit St. Paul's City Academy

ST. PAUL (AP) -- President Clinton will visit City Academy, the nation's first charter school, on Thursday as a part of his two-day, four-city ''school reform tour.''

The choice of City Academy was unveiled Monday. The White House announced the tour Saturday. Clinton is visiting St. Paul to promote his education plan and draw attention to the birthplace of charter schools.

Minnesota's charter schools, which are run by parents and teachers instead of school boards, were created with the passage of a 1991 law and are the first of their kind in the country. City Academy in St. Paul was the nation's first charter school.

The school serves about 90 students and uses an alternative high school curriculum.

With the question settled Monday, Cutter tried to keep staff and students' excitement down as preparations for the visit began.

''We cleaned,'' Cutter said. ''You know what it's like when your mom comes to visit? Multiply that.''

Minnesotans will be seeing a lot of Clinton in the next two months. The White House announced earlier this month that Clinton will give the commencement address June 10 at Carleton College in Northfield.