School Lessons From New York

 

It's good to see the incoming mayor of Washington DC, Adrian Fenty, focusing on education and coming to NYC to learn more about the boldest education reform going on in any major city in America today...

New Yorkers may find plenty to criticize about their schools, but Washington, D.C.'s next mayor wants them. Last week, the mayor-elect, Adrian Fenty, made his third trip to New York City to meet with Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein. This time he brought with him 11 members of the D.C. Council, as well as the school superintendent, Clifford Janey, to see how Washington, D.C., can learn from New York.

Washington, D.C.'s schools spent over $15,000 a student, the highest level in the nation, in the academic year 2004-05, according to the National Education Association, and well above the New York level of almost $13,000. But District of Columbia students lag behind in testing, and schools are poorly maintained. Most parents who can afford to opt out, do so, either by moving to the suburbs or by sending their children to a private school.

I was part of a group that met with Fenty on one of his earlier trips and found him to be very engaged and open-minded on this issue.

 

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School Lessons From New York

BY DIANA FURCHTGOTT-ROTH
December 15, 2006
URL: http://www.nysun.com/article/45265

New Yorkers may find plenty to criticize about their schools, but Washington, D.C.'s next mayor wants them. Last week, the mayor-elect, Adrian Fenty, made his third trip to New York City to meet with Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein. This time he brought with him 11 members of the D.C. Council, as well as the school superintendent, Clifford Janey, to see how Washington, D.C., can learn from New York.