During 2023, considerable progress has been made toward the creation of a pilot public voluntary, racially- and socio-economically diverse, cross-district school in Monroe County that would offer an academic focus not currently available in any school district.
As indicated in a post last month, a work group report fleshed out many of the concepts that would guide the development of such a pilot school — based on input from more than 50 representatives from BOCES, city and suburban school districts, unions, Causewave and Great Schools for All, among others.
This fall, interested superintendents have begun to share the work group report and its preliminary recommendations with their boards. Considerable interest in the broad concept has been indicated, and conversations are underway to flesh out the nature of what an initial pilot school might look like. Initial discussions have focused attention on the possibility of creating a pilot high tech/career tech/workforce development middle and high school model that would potentially include partnerships between urban and suburban school districts, the business community and other collaborative partners. Continuing conversations regarding this or perhaps other pilot school opportunities are scheduled following the holidays.
Decades of national research have demonstrated consistently that racially- and socioeconomically-diverse schools improve the odds of higher academic outcomes and enhanced critical-thinking skills. In general, students who attend such diverse schools have more positive life outcomes than those who attend high-poverty schools – for example, more college education, higher incomes, lower rates of poverty, more stable marriages.
Keep in touch, and stay tuned for reports of progress in the coming months, as well as some suggestions for ways members of the community can support their school districts! In the short run, Justin Murphy of the Democrat and Chronicle has begun talking to stakeholders in the education community about the work group report and likely next steps, and is expected to be reporting on his preliminary findings in the near future.
As 2023 comes to a close, our best wishes to all for a happy holiday season and new year.
With gratitude,
Great Schools for All
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