Your independent guide to NYC public schools

Students without placements or unhappy with school assignments in Brooklyn can attend the DOE's new school fair today at Brooklyn's Borough Hall from 4-7 p.m. New middle and high schools with open seats in Brooklyn will attend the fair; students can apply on the spot.

Although students citywide are invited to attend, today's fair is only for Brooklyn schools. A similar new school fair will take place in Queens later in the month.

The DOE has set dates for a rapid second round of Contracts for Excellence (C4E) public hearings, where parents, community leaders and advocates can speak out on C4E funding, which by law must go to students with the greatest needs, particularly students living in poverty and English Language Learners (ELLs).

Chancellor Joel Klein's initial push to persuade Albany to redirect portions of C4E money incensed advocacy groups, including the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which stresses that C4E funds are meant to support and not replace city spending. But since the forceful resolution of the 2008-09 schools budget, the $63 million once in question is now budgeted "entirely within the mandates" of the law, according to the DOE.

This second round will take up school-based plans for spending developed by principals and school leadership teams. DOE sources say revised proposals will post to the DOE website next week; we'll let you know when the links are live, so you can see what's on deck at your child's school.

The second round is scheduled as follows:
* Staten Island on Tuesday, July 29
* Queens on Tuesday, July 29
* Bronx on Wednesday, July 30
* Brooklyn on Wednesday, July 30
* Manhattan on Wednesday, July 30

Got any questions? Let us know.

After all the middle-school admissions brouhaha, disturbing reporting on students who can't get out of the middle grades was released today by the Out of School Youth Coalition, a network of social service and advocacy groups. Some of these 'overage' middle-schoolers are 16 or 17 years old -- in the seventh or eighth grade.

The DOE, in its wisdom, does not make data publicly available to discern citywide how many older teens are still stuck in middle school. In one survey of nine Bronx middle schools, more than a quarter of the 6,000 students were older than they should be for their grade -- due to repeated retentions, disruptions in foster care, and complications in safety transfers, among other factors.

Since 2005, the DOE has developed alternative programs for older, underachieving high school students via its Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation. But comparable program options for younger students who've fallen behind are sorely lacking. It's hard to imagine the daily difficulty and frustration of being 17 in a sea of 13-year-olds; could we make it any harder for these struggling kids?

The City Council agreed with the mayor on a $59.1 billion budget last night that restores $129 million in proposed education cuts. The agreement comes days away from the July 1 deadline. The teacher’s union, which had been vocal in its opposition to proposed budget cuts, applauded the agreement.

“I’m very proud of the education community,” said Sarah Morgridge, of city council education committee chair Robert Jackson’s office. “People moved beyond their own school. They stood together and looked at the bigger picture.”On the funding front, many will now turn their attention to Contracts for Excellence (C4E). Morgridge said she wonders if Bloomberg et al are posed to push City Council and the state “to take the strings off C4E funding.” C4E funding is the fruit of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) settlement with the state, and therefore, protected by law.

With the city's budget now on the books, keep track of the C4E debate with our calendar, and, of course, this blog.

As the last gathering in the opening round of Contracts for Excellence public accountability hearings, tonight’s hearing in Queens could get heated. The final meeting will come 24 hours after a reportedly intense session in Manhattan, where, according to one attendee, protesters marched out of the hearing at 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the mainstream press is picking up on the hearings. Jennifer Medina posted on the Times' City Room blog, while the Post focused on Chancellor Klein and C4E spending.We'll follow the C4E and budget-cut hearings as they unfold; let us hear from you if you attend or have something to say.

More than 1,000 students, educators and concerned citizens marched outside a rain-soaked City Hall yesterday in protest of proposed budget cuts to New York City’s public schools. Others organized against the budget cuts online, meanwhile, directing an onslaught of emails to City Council members.

These two protests kicked off a busy week on the budget front. Tonight there is a public accountability hearing in Manhattan at 6:30 p.m. to evaluate the city’s use of Contracts for Excellence funding. And tomorrow, a similar hearing will take place in Queens.

More than 100 people responded to our poll asking “How should the DOE respond to the UFT's call for precautions concerning extreme heat?”

Here's how you voted:

• 39 percent (41 votes) said the DOE should implement all of the UFT’s suggestions.
• 25 percent (26 votes) said the DOE should dismiss classes early on extremely hot days.
• 19 percent (20 votes) said the DOE should hold classes as usual.
• 16 percent (17 votes) said the DOE should cancel school altogether.

Thanks again for your votes! Enjoy the nice weather this week.

On top of admissions jitters, stormy weather and Brooklyn’s new IKEA opening, a busy week on the budget and funding fronts is ahead of us. Stay up-to-date with the Insideschools calendar as we plow towards the summer break.

Today the Keep the Promises Coalition is holding a rally against the budget cuts at 4:30 p.m., when protesters will attempt to encircle City Hall. Protesters should meet along Broadway before marching to City Hall. In an email this morning, Betty Zohar, Brooklyn’s UFT parent and community liaison, estimated some 1,500 protesters will attend.

Tomorrow and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., the city will conduct public hearings in Manhattan and Queens, respectively, to discuss the DOE’s use of Contracts for Excellence (C4E) funding. Chief among its many goals, C4E funding aims to reduce class size and to bolster instruction for students with the highest needs, which include students living in poverty, English Language Learners and special-education students.

Parents, students and community members who wish to testify at the C4E public hearings should sign up at 6 p.m. The Manhattan hearing will be at Fashion Industries High School; in Queens, at I.S. 230.

--posted by Tanner Kroeger

Chancellor Joel Klein and others announced today the Education Equality Project, which will aim to hone the nation’s attention on students with the highest needs and “to focus the presidential candidates on educational equality.” The project said it plans to host forums at both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

“We need to get serious about giving all children the education they need to succeed,” Klein said at the press conference held in Washington, D.C. “It won't be easy — the status quo has lots of defenders — but it can be done and it is absolutely essential that we do it.”

Klein will serve as co-chairman of the project with the Rev. Al Sharpton. Among the leaders initially joining Klein and Sharpton are Geoffrey Canada of the Harlem Children's Zone and former New York Daily News education reporter Joe Williams of Democrats for Education Reform.

--posted by Tanner Kroeger

UFT president Randi Weingarten is urging the DOE to to consider protocols to protect students and teachers in schools without air conditioning from the extreme heat.

Weigh in through the Insideschools poll...

posted by Tanner Kroeger