Mayor Bloomberg Discusses President Obama's Visit to P-TECH and the Progress Made in New York City Public Schools in Weekly Radio Address

October 27, 2013

The following is the text of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, October 27, 2013.

“Good Morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

“Over the past 12 years – by consistently raising standards, improving classroom instruction, and investing in new schools that give parents more high-quality choices –our City’s public schools have made major progress. And it’s paid huge dividends for our students. Graduation rates are up 39%. Our dropout rate has fallen by half, to an all-time low. And 22 of the top 25 elementary and middle schools in the state are in New York City –including seven schools that were created during our Administration.

“Last week, the success of our schools was spotlighted in two dramatic ways: First, on Friday, I welcomed President Obama to Brooklyn’s ‘Pathways in Technology Early College High School,’ better known as P-Tech, which we opened in 2011. We created it in partnership with IBM and the City University of New York, and President Obama has touted it as a model for others around the nation to follow. P-Tech starts in the 9th grade and runs through the 14th grade. It focuses on instruction in computer science, and students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree from CUNY's College of Technology – at no cost. In addition, they’ll be first in line for job interviews at IBM.

“Earlier this year in his State of the Union address, the President described P-Tech as just the type of school our nation needs so we can equip graduates for the 21st century. That’s why our Administration has opened two more six-year high schools this fall, and we’re working to open three more next year. It’s always a great day when the President of the United States comes to your city to highlight something that he sees as a model for the nation. And Friday was an especially great day for all of our students at P-Tech.

“P-Tech is one of the more than 650 new, smaller schools we’ve created and that are a cornerstone of our reform effort. It’s the greatest number of new schools created by any Administration in the city’s history. And last week, a study published by researchers at MIT and Duke University provided clear evidence that the new, smaller schools we’ve created are essential to the progress our students have made. According to the study, students who attend our city’s new, smaller high schools are significantly more likely to receive high school diplomas and attend college. The students at smaller schools also receive, on average, four more days of school instruction each year.

“By creating more quality school choices for parents, we’ve better prepared our students for success today – and laid the groundwork for their success for years to come.

“This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening.”

Contact:

Marc La Vorgna (212) 788-2958