The Department of Education identified 20 elementary and middle schools as "struggling" and targeted for "early engagement conversations" the first step in a process that could result in their closure. Yesterday's announcement by DOE official Marc Sternberg came a week after the release of 2011 Progress Report grades.

Schools that were put on notice received low grades (D, F, or C) on the Progress Reports and have low standardized test scores. A few of the schools, 11 of which are in Brooklyn, are relatively new and small, created to replace failing schools. Middle School of the Arts in Crown Heights replaced MS 391 and the General D. Chappie James elementary and middle school in Brownsville, in 2008 replaced the low-performing PS 183. Aspire is one of three replacement schools for MS 135 in the Bronx.

Others on the list, such as PS 161 in Crown Heights, have a history of success. Next step in determining the fate of each school will be a series of public hearings and a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy. Some schools will be slated for "transformation," receiving extra funds and support, others for closure.

Stay tuned for a list of high schools which are certain to be added to the endangered list when their progress reports are released later this fall. Here's the list of the 20 elementary and middle schools.

Manhattan

P.S. 137 John L. Bernstein (District 1)

The Bronx

P.S. 277 (District 7)

New Millennium Business Academy (District 9)

M.S. 142 John Philip Sousa (District 11)

Aspire Preparatory Middle School (District 11)

Brooklyn

Satellite III (District 13)

P.S. 256 Benjamin Banneker (District 13)

KAPPA VII (District 13)

P.S. 19 Roberto Clemente (District 14)

P.S. 22 (District 17)

P.S. 161 Crown School (District 17)

Middle School For The Arts (District 17)

I.S. 171 Abraham Lincoln (District 19)

P.S. 298 Dr. Betty Shabazz (District 23)

General D. Chappie James Elementary School (District 23)

General D. Chappie James Middle School (District 23)

J.H.S. 296 Halsey School (District 32)

Queens

P.S. 215 Lucretia Mott (District 27)

P.S. 181 Brookfield (District 29)

Staten Island

P.S. 14 Cornelius Vanderbilt (District 31)