“New York City has been a pioneer in the small schools movement, and I think we’ve seen the potential they have to transform our system. However, while some small schools have shown significant improvements in graduation rates and academic gains, the fact remains that 11 of the 25 schools on the closing list this year are small schools that have opened since 2005.

“This reminds us that there is no magic bullet for transforming schools. Although the ‘small schools approach’ is a great fit for some communities, we should avoid using this as a blanket approach until we have a well thought out policy that caters to the different needs of the city’s many neighborhoods. I look forward to working with the pertinent parties to ensure our city’s children are provided with the best possible education.

“I am also concerned that high-needs students get the education they deserve in this city, and look forward to hearing about Chancellor Walcott’s plan to hold schools accountable for enrolling equal amounts of students with high-needs. I want to thank the Coalition for Educational Justice for highlighting the challenges of students with high-needs, and I’m glad to see that the DOE is giving this issue the attention it deserves.”

###