State report finds city schools under performing - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

State report finds city schools under performing

SCHENECTADY - A new report by the State Education Department finds several districts in our area have underperforming schools. Albany, Amsterdam, Schenectady and Troy all made the state's newly created "Priority" schools list. The distinction means these schools are either not making sufficient progress improving students standardized test scores or graduation rates remain below 60 percent for years.

There are 221 schools on the "Priority" list, which means they have to develop and implement reform plans over the next two years. If they do, they could qualify for up to $2 million in federal funds.

News 10 spoke with the Schenectady Superintendent Laurence Spring, who said the report was disappointing.

"We're on these lists because of how our students with disabilities are underperforming, how our African Americans are underperforming and how our Hispanic kids are underperforming," Spring said.

Sping said he was now creating the "Schenectady Committee on Equity and Excellence," a group that will consist of school personnel and community activists to review their procedures and improve accountability.

"By making sure we see all along how those kids are doing and that the evidence is very public and very visible, it will help the system respond quicker," Spring said.