SURR SchoolsReach Toward Excellence

by M.C. Cohen

The Sixth Annual Award Program of the Reading and Mathematics Institute, entitled “Commitment to Excellence for All Students”, was indeed an excellent occasion.

Highlighted by the keynote remarks of New York Board of Education Chancellor Harold O. Levy and the Commissioner of the New York State Education Department, Dr. Richard P. Mills, the event at Brooklyn’s New York Marriott Hotel recognized those New York City public schools which at one time were identified as Schools Under Registration Review (SURR), not meeting state standards, but have since managed to more than pass the grade.

“Two or three years ago, these schools were considered the furthest away from state standards,” said James Gaughan, coordinator of New York City School and Community Services. “But now they have achieved their targets.”

In his address, Chancellor Levy acknowledged the improvement but at the same time, recognized that public education still has a long way to go. “It’s the number-one issue of the day,” he said. “It’s a matter of a great national debate. We are going to change ourselves. We are going the raise the standards in our urban centers and in our toughest schools.”

And why not? With 40 percent of New York State’s fourth graders reading below grade level, and 54 percent in New York City, major changes are necessary. Statewide, 70 percent of fourth grade students in schools met ELA standards, but in New York City it was only 30 percent.

Typically, schools failing to reach standards have faced a wide variety of obstacles: meeting standardized reading and math scores, uncertified teachers, poor leadership, lack of consistency in the curriculum, among others. “It’s easy to get on the list but it’s hard to get off,” said Dr. Angelo Gimondo, Community Superintendent of District 30. “It takes serious resources to get to that point.”

Gimondo, who had one school, PS 111, on the SURR list, was visibly relieved to have his school removed from it. In celebration of that achievement, fourth grader Ismael Dabo read two poems to the crowd of cheering listeners at the ceremony.

“There’s no better way of improving standards than giving tribute to those who did it,” Commissioner Mills said. “And you did it. We have to mobilize all the resources we have available with sheer effort. Leveling the playing field means stacking the deck in favor of student achievement.”

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