Some of de Blasio's positions very promising. It's why Leonie and many progressive thinking people thought de Blasio was the best candidate in the Democratic Primary. For example:
Testing
- Minimize the use of high-stakes standardized tests and agree to not use tests to decide which schools to close and which students to be held back. (Forum)
- Craft a teacher evaluation system that depends as little as possible on standardized test scores. (survey)
- Refuse to expand standardized testing into other grades (Pre-K to 2nd). (Survey)
- Encourage other NYC high schools to join the portfolio/alternative assessment consortium as opposed to basing graduation decisions on the results of the Regents exams. (Survey)
- Develop a non-punitive process by which NYC parents can choose to have their children opt-out of standardized testing. (Survey)
Furthermore:
Small schools, vocational schools and online learning
· Relax the requirement that all new schools be of a small size. (Survey)
· Ensure that students have full, face-to-face, in-person access to teacher, or continue to expand online learning as the alternative. (Survey)
· Improve Career and Technical Education programs. (Survey)
· Focus on ensuring there are quality schools in EVERY neighborhood. (Survey)
Help schools improve rather than close them
· Support rather than close struggling schools. (Survey)
· Create an early warning system for schools that are falling further behind. (Survey)
· Schools identified as struggling will receive targeted support through a new “Office of Strategic Supports” housed in the DOE that will develop intervention strategies in conjunction with the school communities and target individual high-need schools which will receive short-term, intensive support. (Survey)
You get the idea. The list is not perfect but it's fairly promising in many ways. Now let's see what our mayor elect does.
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