A new poll shows most New Yorkers think the public school system has stagnated or declined since Mayor Michael Bloomberg took control of it nine years ago.
The New York Times poll found only 34 percent approved of how the mayor was handling education.
In follow-up interviews, the Times said respondents expressed frustration over the system of school choice, services for disabled children and the emphasis on standardized tests.
Education has been a signature issue for Bloomberg.
Mayoral spokeswoman Julie Wood played down the poll results. She said graduation rates are at an all-time high and the city was outpacing the rest of the state on test scores.
The telephone poll of 1,027 adults was conducted Aug. 9-15. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Poll: NYers Dissatisfied with Public Schools Since Bloomberg Took Over
The poll found only 34 percent approved of how the mayor is handling education.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
