Middle School Teaching Units

New York Schools encompass two different worlds: New York City and New York State. Assessments of the two are generally separate since the thriving metropolis of New York City is a different world from the New York Schools that make up the rest of this rural and suburban state.

Johanna Duncan-Poitier, recently named senior Deputy Commissioner of Education

P-16, recently revealed the Board of Regent’s plan for the New York Schools outside of the city limits. While these New York Schools retain a national reputation for excellence, they still face challenges in educating the vast and diverse students in its many districts. Duncan-Poitier announced an unprecedented $1.7 billion budget that New York Schools will use to improve graduation rates, raise learning standards and increase accountability.

Among the issues that New York Schools are dealing with are: charter schools, time for instruction and inequity in learning. The last, a learning imbalance, seems to occur during the middle school years. 70% of New York Schools’ fourth grade students passed the reading and writing exams, while only 48% of eighth graders passed. This challenge is compounded by the gap black and Hispanic children face in reaching similar achievement goals.

One way some New York Schools addressed this challenge was by extending the length of the school day in 2006. Their results will determine whether other schools follow suit.

New York Schools also struggle with the success of its charter schools. Since implementing the charter school concept in 1999 New York Schools have debated their success. Success or failure of charter schools is highly individual. Some New York Schools in the charter system boast success and have waiting lists of children hoping to enroll. Other educators in the New York Schools argue that the success of these charters rests partially in the fact that they take fewer Continue Reading