NYC-WTC_000195490

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Making Our Schools Safe, Orderly and Drug-Free

e Board In 1998, the NYPD assumed responsibility for providing school safety services in order to create a safer le needs school environment. Statistics speak to the success of this transition: a 17 percent reduction in criminal incidents; urrently an 11 percent reduction in serious non-crlminal incidents; and a 23 percent reduction in arrests. To build on this ation of success, the City is providing $10.5 million to allow for the hiring of 800 school safety officers. ilifornia :uses on Prompted by a recent law that tightened disciplinary nieasures throughout the state, and increased ■ control mainstreaming of New York City special education students, teachers will now have new recourse with respect to disruptive student behavior. In 2002, teachers will have the authority to send students exhibiting excessively disruptive behavior to In-School Suspension Classrooms in elementary, middle, and high schools. City funding little-td- totaling $19 niillion will go toward hiring approximately 500 teachers trained in behavior management to oversee English these classrooms. Each classroom will provide support services for the emotional and character development of students tip to 45,000 students during the school year. In the past, disruptive students retrioved from classrooms received lopment no instructional of behavioral services. For example, during tlie 1999-2000 school year, suspensions resulted in 1.35 million missed days from school. This new in-school suspension program will keep disruptive students in school and learning as well as allow regular classrooms to function without interruption. id after- 45,300 The 2002 Executive Budget includes $3.5 million for three additional Second Opportunity Schools in such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens that will continue to build upon the success of those currently opefating in the cademy Bronx. Second Opportunity Schools (SOS) were created to serve the compulsory education needs of students suspended from traditional school placements due to their violent or antisocial behavior. In addition to traditional : I general and special education classes, these schools offer technical and vocational training, as well as a mandatory I highly I summer program. m New ; than a Building a System Based on Accountability, Competition and Choice semath isments Throughout the country, private management has shown excellent results in improving school performance. rest and The Executive Budget sets aside $80 million for the private management of Schools Under Registration Review. upport. (SURR). For years, the Board has had over 90 failing schools on the SURR list. Parents and students can no landing longer wait fof reform that will offer them the educational opportunities to which they are entitled. Private 3r those management will introduce ideas and strategies that may finally reduce the number of failing schools in the New York City system.

!90,000 I Recognizing the importance of increased competition, the City continues to support the opening of charter lents in Schools, which) are free from state and local regulations that stifle innovation. In 2002, two new and ten converted uilding charter schools are expected to open, bringing the total number in operation to 26. These schools, which are ades 3- located in four of the five boroughs, include a technology-focused extended day program, as well as a night school school I for older students ages 17-21 years old. laration student If Charter Schools are to succeed they must compete on a level playing field. To help address inadequate during funding for charter facilities, the City has created the Charter School Improvement Fund. This fund assists schools by providing grants of up to $250,000 for facilities needs, such as the construction and renovation of classrooms, libraries and computer laboratories, and the purchase of equipment. Ten schools will receive grants of $250,000 ) create early this summer and the City expects to fund additional charter school requests through the fall of 2001. J o build inedto :ontain

241 i \

NYC-WTC_000195735