Adams' comments on class size, remote learning and year-round schooling; and Maya Wiley and Danny Dromm on the ensuing controversy

On Friday, a furor erupted when the Matt Skidmore Show tweeted a video excerpt from a Citizen's Budget Committee Mayoral forum that took place on February 25. The clip is above,  in which Eric Adams said that if elected, he would create a summer school program in which each teacher would have a class of 300-400 students.

Here are Adams' exact remarks, from the transcript:

And so if you do a full year school year by using the new technology of remote learning, you don't need children to be in a school building with a number of teachers, it's just the opposite. You could have one great teacher that's in one of our specialized high schools to teach 300 to 400 students who are struggling in math with the skillful way that they're able to teach. 

Let's look at our best mastered [sic] teachers and have them have programs where they're no longer being just within a school building. We no longer have to live within the boundaries of walls, of locations. We can now have a different method of teaching and I'm going to have the best remote learning that we could possibly have, not just turning on the screen and having children look at someone or really being engaged.

After the video was tweeted,  it was retweeted thousands of times, commented upon and disputed by the other candidates.  Here are just some of the articles about the controversy in Intelligencer, NY1, Politico, and Daily News, among others.

In response, Adams claimed he "misspoke and meant to say 30 to 40 students. He also said he was referring to summer school classes and optional enrichment for high school students." 

But neither of those statements are true.  As Mercedes Schneider pointed out in her blog,  Adams had said something very similar in an interview in Bloomberg News, in an interview with political consultant, Howard Wolfson, on  February 22, just three days before the CBC forum: 

So just dealing with summer school — we could use remote learning. We should have the best remote-learning experience on the globe. We should reach out to Google, we should reach out to Facebook, we should reach out to our tech industry, and we should build out a state-of-the-art remote learning experience so that children don’t have to sit in the school building. We should require two to three hours a day where our young people during the summer months are receiving continuous instruction. And you could have a great teacher, math teacher, English teacher, from one of the specialized high schools, who can do this remotely, or one of the great teachers of schools, public, middle schools.

Covid has revealed to us we can do remote learning — we just have to do it right. We can’t go through the motions. Too many students — they’ll sign on, they just put a screen up. That is not remote learning. We need to master remote learning. You could have one teacher who could instruct remotely 200 to 300 students, and give them the instruction that they deserve. We can do this if we bridge technology with the learning experience, and it would be cost-effective.

Yet if we've learned one thing from this pandemic, is that remote learning doesn't work, especially with large classes -- as too many NYC kids have been subjected to this year.  (See my Council testimony on this.) 

Moreover, these remote classes would not be "optional" as he now claims, but an essential part of year-round schooling that would be required of all students, if Adams has his way.

Mostly skipped over in the class size controversy is Adams' proposal for mandatory year-round schooling.  The below is the top education item in his 100 Steps Forward for NYC campaign document.

Year-round schooling is a highly unpopular idea among most parents, nearly as unpopular as large classes, as shown in this recent nationwide survey of parents on what steps should be taken to make up for the Covid disruption of learning, like extending the school year. 

On Sunday, Maya Wiley held a press conference in Jackson Heights Queens, to discuss her proposal to reduce class size, as well as her other education priorities.  All the parents and teachers who spoke also agreed about the need to invest in smaller classes and criticized Eric Adams' claim that remote classes with hundreds of students could ever "give them the instruction that they deserve."  

Wiley specifically pointed out that though most all student suffer from a regime of remote learning, the research shows that those who suffer the most are disadvantaged students: "online learning is not racial equity because kids of color fall further behind in online learning,”

Videos of all the speakers at the rally,  including Wiley, are posted here.  Below is what she said when she was asked by the NY1 reporter about the Adams proposal of instituting remote summer school classes with hundreds of students:

Here is what Council Member Danny Dromm, a former teacher who was at the rally, said on the same topic:

The Adams campaign continues to deny that the candidate ever meant what he clearly did mean, with his campaign spokesperson insisting to the Daily News that "the only thing that matters” is the candidate is “not going to require any student to attend 300-400 person classes or any teacher to teach them."

“He believes in in-person classes and small class sizes. He’s always said so."  

After looking carefully at his education record and campaign proposals, I see no mention of this. 

For Adam's education proposals on a host of other issues, check out our comparison charts, summarizing his education agenda and those of the other Mayoral candidates.

DOE and SCA going backwards not forwards in terms of rational school planning

Yesterday's City Council hearings on the capital plan reveals how the NYC remains stubbornly resistant when it comes to expeditious, transparent school planning. 

As explained in my testimony and the report we released yesterday on preK and school overcrowding, 50,000 seats of the 57,000 seats  in the new proposed five-year plan won’t be finished until 2024 or after, long after the Mayor has left office.

from the City Council briefing paper

The DOE disputed this finding to the Daily News: "City Education Department Doug Cohen said the new seats would be done sooner than Haimson projected, although he did not give a concerete time line for their completion."

Yet these figures were confirmed by the Independent Budget Office and the City Council - see the chart above - and neither Lorraine Grillo, President of the School Construction Authority nor Deputy Chancellor Karin Goldmark disputed them when they were asked about this undue delay by Education Chair Mark Treyger at the hearings.

Only 11,000 seats will have been built over the lifetime of the current five-year plan, with 23,000  folded over into the next plan.  Meanwhile our schools are becoming
more overcrowded due to pre-K expansion and rampant development. Already more than 575,000 students suffer in overcrowded schools.

When Council Members Dromm and Treyger asked School Construction Authority President Lorraine Grillo why thousands of seats are going to be unfunded in severely overcrowded districts like District 10 (-1,172), District 13 (-1,636),  District 15 (-3.023), District 20 (-2630) and District 24 (-3961), especially as compared to the last identified DOE needs assessment released in Nov. 2017, she couldn’t explain why. 

First she claimed she had been so successful siting schools in those districts that they didn’t really need many more seats, then she said it’s too hard to find good sites for schools in these areas, and then she said we just have to focus on creating seats in the rest of the city.

The DOE also basically eliminated the class size reduction section of the current plan that was funded at $490M but over five years went mostly unspent, revealing they never intend to lower class size in the first place. According to the Council briefing paper, “The Council was informed that as of Spring 2018 SCA hoped to identify additional projects but none were.  In addition there is no explanation as to how the projects identified will reduce class size.”

There is no identified needs assessment for new seats in the capital plan by the DOE/SCA for the first time since at least 2011.  While the Council has been begging for a more transparent and accurate needs assessment, the DOE decided to take that figure out of the plan altogether.  When asked why, Lorraine Grillo couldn’t explain why, and then said it was all up on the SCA website, [which is untrue.]

CM Dromm said he was very disturbed about the lack of identified needs assessment and the severe cuts to District 24.  CM Treyger said that he saw no reason that the timeline to build schools has to be so painfully slow and that the Amazon deal showed that the city could act faster to encourage economic development; also when it comes to creating new housing  in the various re-zonings happening throughout the city.

CM Brad Lander pointed out that the planning process is dysfunctional.  When a large-scale development is proposed and then approved, too often more schools may be promised on paper, but  aren’t really incorporated  into the overall plan and if and when they are built, this happens years later.  Often, this occurs long after the rest of the development is complete and when  school overcrowding is already at a crisis level and sites are hard to find.  Instead, schools should be included as part of the development’s planning, design and construction at the outset.  He said he hopes this will happen with the Gowanus rezoning happening in his district.

When he asked about the promised installation of air conditioning, and the fact that the DOE’s last progress report to the Council on this had contained inaccuracies, Deputy Chancellor Karin Goldmark insisted that teachers can teach and students can learn no matter how warm the room. (Lots of research shows this is just untrue.)

My testimony is here. When I spoke extemporaneously I said that all this new development could and should be used by the city officials as a way to help them get schools built quickly, yet they fail to take advantage of it. I despair that in the year 2025 when a new five-year plan is introduced, the same problems will be in evidence yet even more severe. There will be yet another Mayor who makes campaign promises to solve the problems of school overcrowding but when he is elected sells his soul to developers.

Reserve your seats now for our Annual Skinny Award dinner on June 19!

Please reserve your seats now for our Annual "Skinny Award" dinner on 

Tuesday June 19. 

We will be  honoring four tremendous individuals who have given us the "real skinny" on NYC public schools:

• Council Member Danny Dromm, Chair of the Finance Committee & former Education Chair

• Norm Scott, retired teacher and blogger/videographer extraordinaire

• Fred Smith, testing expert and critic

• And a surprise honoree who will be announced at the event!

Join us on June 19, 2018 at 6 PM at Casa La Femme, 140 Charles St. in Greenwich Village, for a delicious three course meal with a glass of wine and great company!


This is always one of the most joyous events of the year, where we celebrate our victories and gain strength for the challenges to come. Buy your tickets today.

Even if you can't make it, please consider making a contribution at the above link in honor of these terrific awardees, and to support our work for small classes, student privacy and parent empowerment going forward.

Advocates and Parents Sue in Court to Demand City Reduce Class Size Now

The Daily News reported on our lawsuit , as did Queens Chronicle, WNYC radio, and Our Time Press.

For immediate release: Monday April 16, 2018
Contact: Leonie Haimson, leoniehaimson@gmail; 917-435-9329

 Advocates and Parents Sue in Court to Demand City Reduce Class Size Now

On Thursday April 12, 2018, Class Size Matters, the Alliance for Quality Education and nine parents from all five New York City boroughs filed a lawsuit against the NYC Chancellor Carranza, the Department of Education, and NY Education Commissioner Elia in the State Supreme Court in Albany, to demand that class sizes be reduced in NYC public schools.  The plaintiffs were represented in court by Wendy Lecker of the Education Law Center.

The Contract for Excellence Law was passed in 2007, requiring that the NYC Department of Education lower class size in all grades over five years. Instead, class sizes have risen substantially since then. In July 2017, these same plaintiffs appealed to the NY State Education Commissioner, to demand she enforce the C4E law and require the NYC Department of Education reduce class sizes in all grades. The Commissioner dismissed the petition in December 2017, wrongly claiming that the city’s obligation to reduce class size had “expired” even though the class size provision remains in the law. Now advocates and parents have challenged that decision in court.

Said Leonie Haimson, Executive Director of Class Size Matters, “It is unconscionable that the state

and the city have flouted the law and are subjecting over 290,000 students to overcrowded classes of 30 students or more. It is time for the new Chancellor to finally do the right thing and provide our children with a better opportunity to learn. Class size reduction is one of only handful of reforms have been proven to work to boost student learning and narrow the achievement gap. The fact that NYC test scores have stalled over the last four years, according to the most reliable national assessments, shows that our students desperately need smaller classes.”

“Studies have shown us time and time again that when class sizes are too big, children do not get the
attention and resources they need to thrive,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “Despite a legal obligation to reduce class sizes, the Department of Education has continued to allow classes in New York City to grow substantially, denying our children the education they deserve and putting far too much pressure on teachers. I am proud to continue standing with Class Size Matters and parents until the City makes good on their commitment to our children.”

JoAnn Schneider, a Queens parent and plaintiff, agreed: “The other day I encouraged my son to raise his hand during 5th grade math. He had just received a "0" for participation. In a class of 32 kids, his chance to participate and his chance to learn has been squashed. He needs a smaller class size now.”

“Smaller classes are necessary to create the vibrant, interactive learning environments our students need to succeed. Far too many of our city’s students are currently trying to learn in overcrowded classrooms, and we can no longer accept the status quo on this critical issue,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“My daughter has been in huge classes since Kindergarten,” said Naila Rosario, another plaintiff whose children attend public schools in Brooklyn. “This year, in fifth grade, her class size is 34. Like other children, she needs and deserves more personal attention and feedback to thrive. Despite the Mayor's claims, there can be neither equity nor excellence when NYC children are disadvantaged in this way."

In a newly-released report entitled Planning to Learn, the New York City Council acknowledged that “NYC has still not met the agreed-upon class size reduction goals established in 2007.”

"It is unfortunate that it has come to the point where a lawsuit is needed to address the issue of reducing class size," said NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights, NY). "As a former NYC public school teacher, I know how important small class size is to improved student outcomes. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of our students are still crammed into classes of 30 or more and do not receive the attention they need to succeed. This situation is unacceptable and needs to be fixed immediately."

Advocates and parents are asking the court to overturn the Commissioner’s decision and order New York City to fulfill its obligations under the law to lower class size, so that the city’s children have an opportunity to obtain the sound basic education to which they are entitled under the state constitution. The state’s highest court in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case said could not occur in NYC schools without smaller classes.

The complaint is posted here.

###

Federal Civil Rights Complaint vs Success Charter Academy's Systematic Violation of Disabled Students' Rights

credit: NY Times

Success Charter Network, founded by Eva Moskowitz, is now facing another investigation. We firsta FERPA complaint by Fatima Geidi to the US Department of Education on Eva Moskowitz's violation of student privacy by releasing a student's disciplinary records in October. Yesterday, it was announced that SUNY, the charter chain's authorizer, is investigating the Success Network's disciplinary and suspension practices, including the infamous "Got to Go" list first reported by the NY Times.
reported on

Now  parents of 13 special needs students,. along with Public Advocate Letitia James and City Council Education Committee chair Danny Dromm, have filed a formal complaint with the Civil Rights division of the US Department of Education..

Some of the claims include refusing disability services required by law to the students, and harassing parents to force their children to transfer out of the charter chain into public schools. You can read more in this article by Juan Gonzalez here.

From the complaint, it is apparent that Success Academy's systemic violations include pushing students out via repeated suspensions, many times without due process and without reporting them as such, holding them back, denying them services, and shaming them.

You can read the full complaint below.

A, And Parent of a Et Al. 1-20-16

Pictures and words from our amazing rally yesterday; protesting Gov. Cuomo's forced charter takeover of our public schools

Yesterday, we held a terrific rally with hundreds of parents and kids, filling the steps of the NY Public Library, outraged at the onerous provisions in the state budget bill that would force the city to give every new and expanding charters preference for public school space going forward or cover the cost for them to obtain private space.  The rally was the result of an unprecedented outreach and organizing effort by Community Education Council leaders, elected by public school parents citywide,  to inform them of what had happened, and allow them to express their justified outrage at the forced privatization of our public schools. For more on the rally see our press release on Diane Ravitch's blog here.

This is the most egregious charter preference law in the nation, and the most acute violation of local control.  As Sen. Liz Krueger pointed out at the rally, the privatizers avidly supported mayoral control when that mayor was Michael Bloomberg, eager to give away our schools to charter operators.

But when New Yorkers overwhelmingly elected  a mayor who said he would charge charters rent and hold a moratorium on co-locations, the powers that be persuaded the Governor and the leaders of the Legislature to perform a bloodless coup, to essentially eliminate mayoral control and force the city to pay for unlimited charter expansion at the cost of our public school students, creating even more division, overcrowding, deprivation and larger class sizes. 

Here are some snapshots from the afternoon -- which sadly few media outlets chose to cover:

Yes!  All Kids do Matter.  And the Governor should stop playing favorites and do his duty by providing an equal education for all children.

Gloria Corsino, President of the Citywide District 75 Council, with a sign pointing out how the Governor and (some of ) our Senators sold us out.

Some of the elected leaders who came to support our rally and oppose the hostile takeover of our schools included State Senators Brad Hoylman, Liz Krueger, and City Council Education Chair Danny Dromm.

The crowd continued to gather, and despite the anger, it was a festive occasion with green balloons and an opportunity to have our voices heard for a change. 

Brad Hoylman, one of only three Senators to vote against the budget bill, saying, "Did any ask the parents if they wanted their kids evicted out of classrooms and art rooms to make way for charters?"  The answer was a resounding NO!

Councilmember Danny Dromm, chair of the Education Committee and a former teacher for 22 years, called the new charter provisions "education apartheid."

The civil rights leader Hazel Dukes, President  of the NAACP New York State Conference, told how she will continue to fight for the rights of all children for a quality education, and pointed out that 60 years after Brown vs. Board of Education, special needs kids are getting their services in closets due to charter encroachment.

Hundreds of us march to the Governor's office on 3rd Avenue, while chanting, led by drummers.

We collect (fake) money to give to the Governor, as this is what appears to be motivating his preferential treatment of charter operators and their hedge fund backers, who have contributed nearly $1 million to his re-election campaign.

Children and their parents cross the street to meet with the Governor's representative, to give her a postcard addressed to Cuomo, signed by kids and parents, urging him not to sell-off our schools, with (fake) money taped to it.

The children hold up the post card to the Governor, with a stamp portraying Rich Uncle Pennybags from Monopoly.  (Thanks Shino Tanikawa for her artwork!)  They  hold more signs, saying "Don't Squish us in, Public Schools Necesitamos Espacio!"

The Governor's deputy press secretary carries the post card back into their offices. 

Meanwhile, Brooklyn parents, facing a Success co-location that the community uniformly opposes, get into a heated argument with a Success employee, there to videotape the proceedings for Eva Moskowitz.

Our protest ends with a speech by Senator Bill Perkins, one of the other three Senators to vote against the budget bill, along with Sen. Velmanette Montgomery.   He compares the proliferation of charter schools to the growth of Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises selling unhealthy food; and adds that charter operators are like "wolves in sheep clothing."