Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott Denies Claim That NYC Warehouses Students
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents says thousands of students are now "warehoused" due to New York City's policy of shutting failing schools.
Chancellor Merryl Tisch made the comment at a meeting with the Daily News Editorial Board on Tuesday after visiting the Automotive High School in Brooklyn.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports
Podcast
She said no one was in the classroom and students at the school were wandering around the hallways. The high school's principal didn't return requests for comment. Only one percent of graduating students at Automotive last year were ready for college.
Since 2002, the city has opened 528 new schools and closed 117 struggling ones.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg insists the city has made enormous progress with the city school system.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb With Reaction From Bloomberg
Podcast
"I don't think there's any school system in the country that has taken a school like the one she talked about and made as many improvements as we have," Bloomberg said. "Are they all going to be ready for Harvard, Yale or Princeton? No, and incidentally, neither was I when I graduated school."
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said he strongly rejected any notion that the schools "warehouse" students.
Do you agree with Chancellor Tisch? Sound off in our comments section below…
(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
