The New York City public school system is exceptionally large at 1.1 million students—the largest in the country—and is run by the New York City Department of Education. Since 2002 the Department has operated a portfolio approach to school development in the city, charging an Office of Portfolio Planning (OPP) with identifying student needs and responding with new schools.
Each year the department reviews the school options available throughout the city, and assesses family demand. Tools available to the OPP include starting new district schools, chartering schools, closing low performing schools, changing a school’s enrollment policies, or relocating pre-K and gifted and talented programs from one site to another.
Websites:
http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolofone
http://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/default.htm
Contacts:
Nathan Horton
Associate Director of New School Development
nhorton@schools.nyc.gov
212-374-5338
Natasha Howard
NHoward2@schools.nyc.gov
212-374-7923
*Image: Chancellor Joel Klein visits schools, Warga/News
