50 Schools to Join Bronx Plan

NEW YORK –February 8, 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced the first 50 schools accepted to the Bronx Plan, which was launched in October as part of the UFT contract agreement. The Bronx Plan will support 180 historically underserved schools citywide over the next three years. Through collaborative decision-making, teachers and principals will also create specific solutions tailored to the needs of their school communities to increase student achievement.

"For far too long the New York City school system did not deliver for every zip code. Schools in the Bronx were often the victims of that inequality,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This initiative will help over a hundred schools attract and retain talented teachers crucial to creating a successful schools and paths for kids of every background."

It is named to reflect the challenges many Bronx schools face, and adds resources to improve teacher retention, reduce teacher vacancies and teacher turnover.

“The Bronx Plan is grounded in our fundamental belief of investing in our schools, our students and our communities," said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “I couldn't be more excited to kick off this innovative, collaborative model for improvement with these 50 schools. Through the Bronx Plan, the right people will be together at the table working to increase teacher retention and drive student progress.”

“The Bronx Plan empowers educators and school communities to come together to decide what their students need to succeed, and then provides the resources to help make that happen. It moves decision-making powers and resources inside schools. And it focuses on schools that historically have not gotten their fair share,” said Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers.

“The Bronx Plan initiative is a great opportunity for the NYC Department of Education to address one of the many difficulties we face here in our Bronx schools – retention of great teachers,” said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “Our students need consistency and educators who are able to provide a stable learning environment that encourages academic growth. This initiative will assist underserved schools in reaching their full potential, outfitting them with the tools necessary for our children to succeed.”

“As a Bronx native and longtime Bronx educator, keeping great teachers and working together to improve schools in the borough and citywide is an issue close to my heart,” said Roberto Hernandez, Chief Administrator for the Bronx Collaborative Schools Model. “Thank you to the schools who took advantage of the opportunity to be a part of the Bronx Plan. Through collaboration among every part of the school community, we can create better systems and achieve better outcomes for our students.”
Schools were invited to apply to the Bronx Plan based on their location in the city, staff turnover, student performance, and current trust levels among staff as measured by the NYC School Survey. The first cohort of schools, all accepted into the Collaborative Schools part of the plan, includes 32 from the Bronx, 11 from East New York and Brownsville and 7 from the Rockaways. Both the principal and the UFT chapter leader jointly signed on for the school’s application.

Starting this spring, identified Bronx Plan Schools may:

Receive coaching to assess their school needs and facilitate grassroots solutions and planning to address school challenges. Projects and initiatives will vary for each of the 50 schools based on what school-based teams identify, but some specific Bronx Plan projects may include: identifying and purchasing new curricular materials, teacher training focused on supporting targeted student groups like Multilingual Learners or Students in Temporary Housing, school staff training focused on culturally responsive practices, new parent programs and resources, increased translation at school conferences and events, and summer bridge programs. In addition to existing funding, schools will receive small grants annually to support their projects.
Receive a hard-to-staff differential to attract and retain good teachers, guidance counselors and other hard-to-staff positions. These differentials will apply for the 2019-20 school year.
Have priority access to centrally-funded Equity & Excellence initiatives such as Computer Science for All, Algebra for All, and AP for All.

Additional schools selected for a hard-to-staff pay differential outside of the full Bronx Collaborative Schools Model will be announced this spring. The second cohort of Bronx Plan schools will be selected in the 2019-20 school year.

“I commend New York City Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza on today’s announcement to continue to invest in schools throughout our city as part of the Bronx plan,” said Representative Adriano Espaillat. “Students and teachers at each of the 50 schools, including Kingsbridge International High School and the High School for Teaching and the Professions in my district, will have greater access to vital resources and tools to support academic achievement and future success.”

“This innovative approach to helping our Bronx schools has the support of teachers and city officials alike. As a former classroom teacher myself, I know just how important our dedicated teachers in the Bronx are to their students’: said Representative Elliot Engel. “Teacher retention is paramount, and the more we can do to show our appreciation for our educators, the better.”

“The quality of your child’s education should not vary by zip-code. Under the Bronx plan, schools that have been historically underserved will be better able to retain good teachers that can provide a valuable curriculum, and give our students just as much opportunity as any other in the city,” said Representative Gregory Meeks. I’m happy that several of the schools in my district are included in this program, and commend DOE and the Mayor’s office for this initiative.”

“Our students deserve the best, as do the excellent teachers who work tirelessly towards their success. I applaud the Mayor and Chancellor for recognizing the importance of improving schools in East New York, Brownsville and citywide, and working towards better outcomes,” said State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud.

“We must see that every child in every zip code receives an excellent education by providing the resources and support that will ensure their success,” said State Senator Alessandra Biaggi. “I support the Department of Education's Bronx Plan and pledge to fight to see that the State does its part by fully funding our schools.”

“There is no question that public schools in the Bronx have long lacked the resources they need to improve academic success for our students. I am encouraged the Bronx Plan aims to attract talented faculty, improve faculty retention rates, and provide a number of other supportive services that will address many unmet needs in these schools. The Bronx Plan creates bold action and backs it up with tangible resources that should have a substantially positive impact on school climate and student performance. I thank Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza for their leadership and look forward to working collaboratively to improve educational outcomes for all students in the Bronx," said Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz.

“Focused on improving student achievement, the Bronx Plan is a bold initiative that brings together educators and administrators to meet the educational needs of the increasingly diverse student bodies in our schools,” said Assembly Member Latoya Joyner. “I am especially proud to have the announcement of the Bronx Plan take place here in Highbridge in my district, and to have it focus on implementing culturally responsive education, meeting the needs of students with language barriers and the needs of those living in temporary housing. I appreciate Chancellor Carranza, President Mulgrew of the UFT and Mayor de Blasio for making the Bronx Plan a reality.”

“I’m pleased to see the Bronx Plan implemented in Brooklyn schools that have been historically underserved and that will benefit greatly from targeted resources and specialized staff training. Every neighborhood deserves high-performing schools, and every student can thrive if they are educated by quality teachers and surrounded by supportive communities. With the partnership of the UFT, we are closer to fulfilling that most fundamental of missions, said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams.

“Today’s Announcement of the Bronx Plan is a step in the right direction that focuses on increasing resources and opportunities in undeserved schools in New York City and in particular, the Bronx.,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson. “I applaud the Administration for recognizing the importance of recruiting and retaining quality teachers while reducing vacancies and turnovers. District 9 and other districts, face a high concentration of students in temporary housing and the Bronx Plan will further invest more resources and collaborative measures to ensure our students achieve academic success. I am thankful for the schools who took advantage of being a part of the Bronx Plan and I look forward to working with Chancellor Carranza as these investments are made in our Bronx schools.”

“Teachers are major influencers to our children and it’s important for them to not feel overworked and underpaid. Providing pay differential at hard-to-staff schools is an attractive incentive for educators and a positive first step to reduce turnovers and vacancies. Thank you to the principals of the schools in my district — Academy for Scholarship and Entrepreneurship, North Bronx School of Empowerment and Leaders of Tomorrow — for investing in their staff and their students through the Bronx Plan. And, kudos to Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza and the UFT for partnering together to bring about a solution to support underserved schools citywide,” said Council Member Andy King.

“I am thrilled that Kingsbridge International High School and the High School for Teaching and the Professions have both been named as part of the Mayor’s 2019 ‘Bronx Plan.’ These are great schools with fantastic students and I am sure that they will greatly benefit from the resources outlined in this initiative. We must remain focused on keeping high caliber educators in the Bronx! I commend Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza for making this program possible where it is most needed,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.

“The implementation of this plan is yet another reason why we need to continue mayoral control of our schools for the sake of our children and young people,” said Rev. Martha Overall, Pastor, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church of Morrisania.

“We at the Casita Maria Center are excited to see more investments and a true commitment by Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carranza to bring equity to our education system through the Bronx Plan. The neighborhoods this plan has committed to investing in have been historically underserved, something that Casita Maria has been dedicated to as well and we hope to continue to great work with the administration going forward,” said Haydee Morales, Executive Director of the Casita Maria Center.

“We support the Bronx Plan’s collaborative partnerships in bolstering equitable educational opportunities and much needed resources that support access to active learning environments for all. We look forward to supporting our Community School partners, Bronx Academy of Multi-Media and the Soundview Academy for Culture & Scholarship, as they engage in building tailored action plans needed in addressing educational systemic changes in their communities,” said Carmen Diaz-Malvido, Chief Executive Officer for ASPIRA of New York, Inc.

The Bronx Plan is aligned to the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda, which is building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our schools are starting earlier – free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. They are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier – Universal Literacy so that every student is reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade; and Algebra for All to improve elementary- and middle-school math instruction and ensure that all 8th graders have access to algebra. They are offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework – Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All will give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, they are giving students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms through Diversity in New York City Public Schools, the City’s school diversity plan, are central to this pathway.

Below is a complete list of the first cohort of Bronx Plan schools:

Bronx
P.S. 277
Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School
Bronx Leadership Academy II High School
The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of Letters
Renaissance High School for Musical Theater & Tech
M.S. 301 Paul L. Dunbar
Bronx River High School
The Hunts Point School
Soundview Academy for Culture and Scholarship
Gotham Collaborative High School
Bronx Arena High School
School for Tourism and Hospitality
J.H.S. 022 Jordan L. Mott
P.S. 063 Author's Academy
New Millennium Business Academy Middle School
The Highbridge Green School
MS 593
MS 594
Kingsbridge International High School
High School for Teaching and the Professions
Fordham Leadership Academy
Academy for Scholarship and Entrepreneurship: A College Board School
North Bronx School of Empowerment
Leaders of Tomorrow
Bronxdale High School
Pelham Gardens Middle School
P.S. 214
Fannie Lou Hamer Middle School
Fairmont Neighborhood School
I.S. X318 Math, Science & Technology Through Arts
Bronx Envision Academy
P.S. 536

Brooklyn
High School for Civil Rights
World Academy for Total Community Health High School
The School for Classics: An Academy of Thinkers
P.S. 150 Christopher
P.S. 165 Ida Posner
The Gregory Jocko Jackson School of Sports, Art, and Technology
P.S. 327 Dr. Rose B. English
Brownsville Collaborative Middle School
Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School
Mott Hall Bridges Academy
Teachers Preparatory High School

Queens
P.S./M.S 042 R. Vernam
P.S. 043
M.S. 053 Brian Piccolo
P.S. 197 The Ocean School
Village Academy
Rockaway Park High School for Environmental Sustainability
Rockaway Collegiate High School