On the latest episode of The Bigger Apple, we talked with education policy expert and MI fellow Jennifer Weber about the history of school choice, the myth of the “small school” and “small class” as a fix-all, and some common-sense reforms that could help the city’s budget and its students.
The big crises in NYC education are literacy and attendance. Roughly one-third of public school students, including in elementary grades, are chronically absent; 56% of third-graders read below grade level, and early academic frustration frequently fuels behavioral disruptions and truancy in upper grades.
Reading is critical for academic success, and students in the lower grades need good teachers and frequent checks on progress to make sure they are not falling behind, not technology or screens to learn, Weber stressed.
The mayor should pay more attention to K-12 education, especially at the elementary school level, because it sets students up for success or failure early. For many families, the quality of public school education, not just affordability, is a major factor in deciding whether or not to stay in the city.
For more, listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
