NYC Coalition for Educational Justice

by Barbara Martinez, The Wall Street Journal

Hundreds of protesters descended on Brooklyn Thursday, laying bare the deep philosophical divide that has become central to the Bloomberg administration’s education policy: whether the city should fix failing schools or shut them down.

The dichotomy came to a head this week as the Panel for Educational Policy met twice to vote on whether to shutter 22 schools deemed failures because its students can’t read or do math on grade level. Continue reading →

by Beth Fertig, WNYC

A city panel voted early Friday morning to phase out 12 more schools — including storied Jamaica High and Columbus High in the Bronx — following a rowdy public hearing in which hundreds staged a walk-out in a show of protest.

Roughly 2,000 people — many chanting “Save our schools” and toting hand-made placards — packed the auditorium of Brooklyn Tech during the Panel for Educational Policy’s second vote on the fate of 25 low-performing schools. On Tuesday, the panel voted to close 10 schools. Continue reading →

by CBS

A boisterous, angry crowd loudly voiced its displeasure at Brooklyn Tech High School in Fort Greene over another round of proposed school closings. Despite their efforts, when the City’s Panel for Educational Policy ended its voting early Friday morning, a dozen more schools faced the axe.

Continue reading →

by NY1 News

School officials are once again expected to get an earful from parents tonight, as the Panel for Educational Policy meets for a second time in one week to decide the fate of 12 more schools slated to close.

Hundreds of parents, students and teachers attended a rowdy meeting in Brooklyn Thursday night before the Panel for Educational Policy voted to close 12 more city schools. Continue reading →

by Yoav Gonen & Doug Auer, NY Post

This time it was personal.

Schools Chancellor Cathie Black underwent a scathing verbal attack last night during a wild hearing in Brooklyn that saw 1,800 furious attendees storm out hours before 12 schools were given last rites.

“We’re not going to sit here and hear them talk like this. It’s a waste of everyone’s time,” said Zakiyah Ansari, a member of the Coalition for Educational Justice, which along with the United Federation of Teachers led the walkout at Brooklyn Tech HS. Some 200 people remained. Continue reading →