Schools Chancellor Touts Test Score Gains to Business Leaders
By Jennifer Medina
October 12, 2009
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/schools-chancellor-touts-test-score-gains-to-business-leaders/

Supporters of mayoral control of city schools like to say that having one person in charge of the schools eliminates the old politics of the Board of Education. But it’s simply been replaced by a different kind of politics, centered on just [...]

Demand For After-School Programs On The Rise
By: Lindsey Christ
October 15, 2009
http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/news_beats/education/107407/demand-for-after-school-programs-on-the-rise/

Despite a new study that shows after-school programs in New York State are above the national curve, some parents say the city is still lagging when it comes to availability. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed the following report.

If they weren’t learning how to knit, playing with [...]

Students Held Back Did Better
By JENNIFER MEDINA
October 15, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/education/16promotion.html

A long-awaited study analyzing the Bloomberg administration’s student-promotion policy says that fifth graders who were held back did better in subsequent years, and that specialized instruction for struggling students showed moderate success.

Under the policy, students who score at the lowest level in state English and math tests [...]

Council Questions Use Of Class Size Funding
By Lindsey Christ
October 13, 2009
http://ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/news_beats/education/107274/council-questions-use-of-class-size-funding/

Two years ago, city schools were awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in extra state funding to lower class size and help the neediest students. But now, a City Council Committee is questioning whether the money is being used as intended. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed [...]

Only some school issues are for parents, Bloomberg says
By Julie Shapiro
October 14, 2009
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_337/onlysomeschool.html

Parents do not need a role in decisions like new school sites or school zoning, Mayor Mike Bloomberg told The Villager last Friday.

Bloomberg said parents need only be involved in the micro issues of their child’s education, like the student’s attendance, behavior and [...]

Steiner calls for state math tests to become less predictable
by Anna Phillips
October 14, 2009
http://gothamschools.org/2009/10/14/steiner-calls-for-state-math-tests-to-become-less-predictable/

Reacting to differences between the state’s own testing data and the results of a national math assessment, Commissioner David Steiner called for the state to review and redesign its tests to make the questions less predictable.

“The New York State NAEP scores in [...]