New York City School Plan Said To Shortchange Schools, Pupils Who Do Well

The New York Sun reports:

Next week, city schools will add a 37 1/2-minute period for struggling students and chop the regular school day by 10 minutes four days a week. At the top-performing schools with few failing students, parents are complaining that their children are being shortchanged.

"There's no reward. The kids who do well get a shortened school day," the chairman of the chancellor's Parent Advisory Council, Tim Johnson, said.

The Department of Education negotiated the extra time, intended to bolster the lowest-performing students, as part of the most recent teacher contract. Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein have hailed the contract as a victory that Mr. Klein says will "boost our children's chances of academic success."

Great moments in public education.