| New York Schools encompass two different | | | | implementing the charter school concept in |
| worlds: New York City and New York State. | | | | 1999 New York Schools have debated their |
| Assessments of the two are generally separate | | | | success. Success or failure of charter |
| since the thriving metropolis of New York | | | | schools is highly individual. Some New York |
| City is a different world from the New York | | | | Schools in the charter system boast success |
| Schools that make up the rest of this rural | | | | and have waiting lists of children hoping to |
| and suburban state. Johanna Duncan-Poitier, | | | | enroll. Other educators in the New York |
| recently named senior Deputy Commissioner of | | | | Schools argue that the success of these |
| Education P-16, recently revealed the Board | | | | charters rests partially in the fact that |
| of Regent's plan for the New York Schools | | | | they take fewer disabled, non-English |
| outside of the city limits. While these New | | | | speaking and poor students. These are all |
| York Schools retain a national reputation for | | | | factors that negatively impact a student's |
| excellence, they still face challenges in | | | | success in school. Charter Schools were first |
| educating the vast and diverse students in | | | | established to give New York Schools' |
| its many districts. Duncan-Poitier announced | | | | students choice with out the private school |
| an unprecedented $1.7 billion budget that New | | | | price tag. It's also beneficial for New York |
| York Schools will use to improve graduation | | | | Schools to keep students enrolled in the |
| rates, raise learning standards and increase | | | | system, since schools receive tax dollars on |
| accountability. Among the issues that New | | | | a per pupil basis. Many parents and educators |
| York Schools are dealing with are: charter | | | | don't like the charter school concept because |
| schools, time for instruction and inequity in | | | | they feel it dilutes the positive effects of |
| learning. The last, a learning imbalance, | | | | New York Schools by removing the most |
| seems to occur during the middle school | | | | involved parents from the public school |
| years. 70% of New York Schools' fourth grade | | | | setting. The P-16 Plan introduced this month |
| students passed the reading and writing | | | | is based on findings of the most recent |
| exams, while only 48% of eighth graders | | | | report card for New York Schools. Initiatives |
| passed. This challenge is compounded by the | | | | designed to go into effect in the fall bear |
| gap black and Hispanic children face in | | | | the burden of maintaining the reputation of |
| reaching similar achievement goals. One way | | | | New York Schools as some of the best in the |
| some New York Schools addressed this | | | | county. |
| challenge was by extending the length of the | | | | |
| school day in 2006. Their results will | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools |
| determine whether other schools follow suit. | | | | K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all |
| New York Schools also struggle with the | | | | U.S. public and private K-12 schools. |
| success of its charter schools. Since | | | | |