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