High-needs schools in New York City are failing students in the most basic of ways, due to budgetary restraints that prevent schools from hiring enough teachers to provide necessary programs. A report by The Campaign for Educational Equity at Teachers College released this month studied 34 of these schools in New York City, finding that many of them are not providing services they are required to provide by law.
According to the National Education Access Network of Teachers College:
“Although the decisions of New York’s highest court in Campaign for Educational Equity (CFE) v. State of New York had led the legislature to enact funding reforms that promised high need districts throughout the state substantial funding increases, the governor and the legislature have reneged on these commitments. This year’s state aid budget cut over $2 billion in education funding.”
The report, entitled “Reviewing Resources: An Assessment of the Availability of Basic Educational Resources in High-Needs New York City Schools,” states that:
"In spite of new rhetoric about preparing students for college and career, schools reported substantial gaps in the basic curriculum, including deficits in science, math, social studies, English language arts, technology, languages other than English, health, physical education, art, music, and library skills. [The 34 schools] also reported a paucity of experiential learning opportunities and inadequate offerings for more academically advanced students. Schools noted significant gaps in their capacity to provide of an ‘expanded platform of programs for at-risk students’ including insufficient school-based supports; insufficient supports after school; insufficient resources for Saturday programs; and inadequate availability of summer school for struggling students.”
Read the preliminary report in its entirety here (Word document).
Please add my name. Carl Whithaus, Professor, University Writing Program.