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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 243-03
September 4, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR JOEL I. KLEIN ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF BOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR CHILDREN FIRST CORE CURRICULUM AND DISCUSS THE STATUS OF SWEEPING EDUCATION REFORMS BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Close to Eight Million Books Now in Classrooms; Schools are Prepared for Implementation of New, Comprehensive Approach to Literacy and Math Instruction that is Key Element of Children First Reform Agenda

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that textbooks and materials needed to support the new, citywide comprehensive curriculum in literacy and mathematics are now in classrooms ready for the first day of school.   The Mayor and Chancellor also discussed the progress of major education reforms that were first presented in January of this year; including professional development for teachers, the creation of Parent Coordinators and an entirely new management structure.  The announcement was made in a classroom at Dorothy Bonawit Kole School (PS 49) in Middle Village, Queens. 

Close to eight million books have now been delivered and unpacked in classrooms across the City.  The books include textbooks supporting the new math and literacy curriculum, as well as the contents of 14,500 new classroom libraries. The new curriculum in literacy and math is a central element of the Children First reform agenda that was announced by Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein last January.

"For too many years, we heard stories about books not being in classrooms in time for the first day of school.  I am proud to say that we made good on our promise in January, and here they are, ready for Monday's classes," Mayor Bloomberg said.  "Our Children First reform agenda is first and foremost about teaching and learning.  We have said from the outset that we must be certain that our children are mastering the basic reading, writing, and math skills that they need to succeed both in school and after. The new citywide core curriculum brings to our classrooms a rigorous instructional approach to literacy and math that will help us raise student achievement across the board."

"The books and materials that support our new curriculum are in our classrooms ready for the arrival of our students on Monday," Chancellor Klein said. "This was no small logistical feat: close to 8 million books were delivered in 300,000 boxes to 1,400 delivery locations.  It is a testament to the effectiveness and efficiency of our new management structure that our schools stand ready to implement the new curriculum."

New Management Structure

The preparedness of the City's schools is due to the effectiveness of the newly reorganized structure of the school system, completed this year as part of the Children First reform agenda. The new management structure is designed to support the instructional goals of the new comprehensive curriculum and to enhance parent involvement. The reorganization streamlined the structure of the school system and redirected resources from bureaucracies to schools. The structure maximizes accountability for performance and achievement and increases the support provided to principals, teachers, and schools.

New Curriculum

The new books and instructional materials are the cornerstone of a new core curriculum dedicated to improving teaching and learning Citywide. The new instructional approach to math and literacy includes rigorous daily instruction for all elementary and middle school students.  For students in kindergarten through third grade, the curriculum includes systematic phonics instruction integrated with reading and writing exercises.  All kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms are now equipped with rich, varied classroom libraries stocked with books that will interest children and encourage independent reading.  For high school students that continue to struggle with reading, writing and math, the curriculum includes special instructional programs designed to assist older students in these areas.

Professional Development

To introduce the new curriculum and raise student achievement Citywide, the City is also taking unprecedented steps to train teachers through strong and coherent professional development.  Today, teachers in each region of the school system are completing an intensive three-day professional development program on the new curriculum that was coordinated and led by the Department's ten Regional Superintendents.  The Department has distributed 80,000 instructional CDs and 80,000 literacy and math handbooks and offered voluntary courses on the new curriculum. The Department has also provided rigorous professional development programs for the expert literacy and math coaches that have been placed in schools to support teachers and classroom instruction and for the Local Instructional Superintendents that will be supervising and supporting networks of schools. Teachers will be provided with ongoing professional development throughout the school year, including an additional 50-minute period of professional development for teachers each week.  In addition, all principals, whether experienced or new, are participating in rigorous and innovative leadership development programs conducted by the Leadership Academy.  This summer, the Academy launched its programs for new and aspiring principals; the leadership program for incumbent principals will begin this month.

Including Parents

Hand-in-hand with these new measures to improve classroom instruction, the Department has also implemented Children First reforms to make schools more welcoming to parents and to strengthen the essential partnership between schools and their students' parents and families.

The Department has hired and trained 1,185 new Parent Coordinators who are now working full-time in schools to address parent concerns and expand parent outreach. The school-based Parent Coordinators will be supported by fully staffed regional Parent Support Offices - which will provide parents with additional access to the school system.   Trained Parent Support Officers are available to parents at the Parent Support Offices in each of the City's 13 Learning Support Center sites.  Parents may obtain help at any of the Parent Support Offices on weekdays, Monday and Wednesday evenings, Saturdays, and the first Sunday of each month.

"Active parent involvement is absolutely critical to raising student achievement," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We need to work together to motivate, support and encourage our schoolchildren. Our reforms recognize that parents must be full partners with our schools in the important work of education."

"We have new, trained Parent Coordinators in our schools ready to welcome students and parents on Monday," Chancellor Klein said. "They will be working to expand parent outreach and involve parents in the education of their children. We know that when parents get involved, schools improve and our children benefit."

Making Registration Easier

In an effort to ensure that as many students as possible were prepared to start classes on the first day of school and to reduce the strain on schools and parents caused by registration during the first weeks of school, the Department recently held an unprecedented citywide early registration drive.  During the drive, the Department opened all City schools for the two-week period prior to the first day of school to students and parents to register. Well over 10,000 students were registered during the initial week.

Being More Responsive

The new regional structure has also enabled the Department to better prepare for the opening of school by establishing systems to address logistical problems that may arise in schools during the first few weeks of the school year. In particular, the Department has created in each Region a designated Rapid Response Team to provide effective support to schools and principals.  The Rapid Response teams will work to ensure that: there is effective communication between schools, Regions, and Central about problems that may arise at the school level; problems are identified and solved as they arise; and there is accountability within the Region for the timely resolution of problems.  Principals may contact the Regional Rapid Response team with problems they experience during the opening week of school.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Robert Lawson   (212) 788-2958

Jerry Russo   (DOE)
(212) 374-5141




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