Five struggling Brooklyn schools must undergo public receivership hearings, starting on Friday. Across the city, 27 schools are subject to the hearings, with the majority of them in the Bronx.
The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is required to hold a public hearing for each of the schools that remain identified as “Struggling” and “Persistently Struggling Schools.
These schools have been placed in receivership under the supervision of the DOE. At the hearings, parents and other stakeholders will be able to comment on the performance of the school since it went under receivership and give recommendations for improving the school.
If the schools have not improved enough, they could be handed over to an outside receiver chosen by the state.
The Brooklyn schools include the Juan Morel Campos Secondary School in District 14; Boys and Girls High School in District 16; Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School in District 19; P.S. 165 Ida Posner in District 23 and P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz in District 23.
– The hearing for Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory School takes place Friday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 999 Jamaica Ave.
– The hearing for Boys and Girls High School takes place Monday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1700 Fulton St.
– The hearing for P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz takes place Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 85 Watkins St.
– The hearing for P.S. 165 Ida Posner takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 76 Lott Ave.
– The hearing for Juan Morel Campos Secondary School takes place Thursday, Sept 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 215 Heyward St.
Speakers must register between 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. on the date of the hearing at the hearing location. Written comments will be collected on the day of the hearing and also can be submitted online by no later than 5 p.m. on the second business day after each school’s hearing date.
In April 2015, state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo created the School Receivership program as an intervention strategy to turn around struggling schools.
This law requires that “Persistently Struggling Schools” be given an initial one-year period under a DOE “Superintendent Receiver” to make demonstrable improvement.
“Struggling Schools,” like the five Brooklyn schools noted above, are given an initial two-year period under a Superintendent Receiver to improve student performance.
More information about the Receivership program and hearings can be found at https://schools.nyc.gov/community/OSFEP/receivershiphearings16-17.htm.
