Mayor de Blasio announced plans to extend the school day by an hour at nearly 100 schools as part the city’s $150 million plan to overhaul underperforming public schools in New York City.
The mayor and city Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina Monday revealed the School Renewal Program, which aims to increase achievement at some of the city’s long-struggling learning institutions.
In addition to extending the school day, the mayor announced extra instruction and resources for 94 schools that rank in the bottom quarter of city schools for graduation and math and English and language arts scores on state exams.
“We’re going to lift up students at nearly one hundred of our most challenged schools,” De Blasio said. “We’ll give them the tools, the leadership, and the support they need to succeed—and we’ll hold them accountable for delivering higher achievement.”
The schools affected are in four of the city’s five boroughs. Forty-three are in the Bronx, 27 are in Brooklyn and 12 each are in Manhattan and Queens. Schools in the program include every level from kindergarten through 12th grade. The full list of schools in the program can be seen here.
Each school in the program will be renamed a “Community School,” and will offer students extra learning opportunities outside of traditional hours. Schools in the program could also see additional guidance counselors, social workers and small-group teachers.
Teachers will also receive additional training and coaching from what the city Department of Education calls “master and model” colleagues. Superintendents and administrators will also face additional oversight, and DOE monitors will be in the hallways and classrooms to keep tabs on progress.
Local
“With the right leadership, rigorous instruction, community partnerships, family engagement, and ongoing support, every school can be great,” said city Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina. “We will ensure our school communities are anchored in trust, and with the cooperation of all major stakeholders, we will support our schools—our students deserve no less, and I’m determined to get this right.”
Each school will create three-year plans to increase achievement, De Blasio said. Schools that miss the mark could face staff shakeups, reorganization or closure.
The DOE says the city has already begun implementing the program at 23 schools in the city and that all 94 are expected to have plans in place by the spring.
Additional schools could be added to the program next year.
