For Immediate Release
Release # 2007-082
New York City Council
City Hall, New York, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116

September 20, 2007
Statement by Speaker Christine C. Quinn Re: Selection of Schools to Participate in Middle School Initiative

Last month the City Council released the report of its Middle School Task Force, which outlined a number of proposals to improve performance at middle-grade schools throughout the City. Many of the proposals were incorporated in the NYC Department of Education's Middle School Initiative. With the Task Force's input, 51 high need schools from all five boroughs have been selected by the DOE to receive $5 million in new funding that will allow them to begin implementing some of the Task Force's initiatives.

Speaker Christine C. Quinn stated:

“In order to begin implementing Task Force recommendations as quickly as possible, the DOE selected 51 schools that can benefit most from these initiatives and that have the ability to start putting them into practice immediately. Schools will have the opportunity to select programs best suited to their individual needs, and will pull from a broad menu of choices, such as expanding the Lead Teacher program, hiring additional guidance counselors, or forming collaborative communities with other schools. The schools chosen represent a wide array of communities, and can serve as a model for these programs that could be emulated throughout the City.”

“When the Council decided to make middle school reform a major priority, we pulled together experts and stakeholders from every facet of the education community. The recommendations of our Task Force point the way toward a comprehensive, effective approach that will dramatically improve New York City's middle-grade schools and create bright futures for our students. We are proud that the Administration and the DOE agreed to implement many of our recommendations this year, and we will continue working to move forward with even more of our key proposals."”