Two area institutions last week found themselves on the state Education Department’s list of 144 Struggling or Persistently Struggling Schools, according to Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia.
John Adams High School in Ozone Park and Richmond Hill High School are both in the Struggling column—schools that have been identified since 2012-13 as Priority Schools (i.e., among the lowest performing five percent of schools in the state.)
In all, nine Queens schools are on the Struggling list.
In April 2015, the Legislature and governor created a new section of state Education Law pertaining to school receivership. In June, the Board of Regents approved new regulations to implement the provisions of the law.
Struggling Schools will be given two years to make demonstrable improvement, with the school’s superintendent established as a receiver, given authority to develop an intervention plan; convert the institutions to community schools providing wrap-around services; expand the school day or year; and remove staff and/or require staff to reapply for their jobs in collaboration with a committee.
“In these schools, whole generations of students have been left behind,” Elia said. “As a former school superintendent, I know how important it will be for superintendents to use their new authority to develop robust plans to improve student performance. Superintendents have an obligation to act on conditions that have persisted for too long in these schools.”
An independent receiver will be appointed by the school district if the superintendent does not make satisfactory improvement on annual goals, including student performance, established by Elia.
Persistently Struggling Schools will be given one year to make the improvements. If they do not meet the one year deadline, the school board will be given 60 days to appoint an independent receiver. The schools will also become eligible for a portion of $75 million in state aid to support and implement its turnaround.
All independent receivers must be approved by Elia.
By Forum Staff
