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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 044-10
January 27, 2010

STATEMENTS OF MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND CHANCELLOR KLEIN ON THE PANEL FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICY'S VOTE TO PHASE OUT UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS

Statement of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg:

"This morning, following a 45-day consultation period in which thousands of New Yorkers participated in dozens of hearings and parent meetings or registered their views online, the Panel for Educational Policy took the difficult but necessary step of voting to phase-out and replace chronically underperforming schools. I've listened to the arguments carefully, and I appreciate the traditions of these schools, but we cannot continue to send our children to schools that have failed them for years. They deserve better, and tonight, the Panel for Educational Policy made the right decision, which will allow us to continue opening new high quality schools for students throughout the city."

Statement of Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein

"The vote to phase-out and replace schools that were not meeting the standard of success we demand for our students will allow us to create far better opportunities for children in these communities and Citywide. Since 2003, we have phased out 91 schools and created 335 schools. While high schools citywide graduate 60 percent of students, our new high schools graduate 75 percent of students. When we know we can do better for students, we must. The vote today will pave the way for us to build on the remarkable progress we've made and continue to best prepare students for the next phase of their lives."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser / Dawn Walker   (212) 788-2958

David Cantor   (Education)
(212) 374-5141




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