The  Department of Education's proposed closing of some 20 schools—including several large high schools which will be phased out and replaced by small schools—prompted an outcry by students and staff  before the holiday break.

Teachers rallied to save some of the large high schools including Norman Thomas, but the decision of whether to approve the closings is in the hands of the Panel for Educational Policy which will meet and vote on Jan. 26 at Brooklyn Tech High School. To date the PEP has overwhelmingly supported the mayor's and chancellor's wishes about school changes.

A provocative piece about the pros and cons of small schools, which during Mayor Bloomberg's tenure have increasingly replaced large high schools, was posted on NYCEducator last week. Among other issues, the poster questions the small school "themes," their ability to offer elective courses and support services to students, and the lack of collaboration between as many as six schools sharing a building.<!--more-->

The number of high schools has more than doubled in the years since Joel Klein became chancellor. Small school advocates have touted better graduation rates and more personalized attention to students who otherwise may fall through the cracks. But these have come at a cost to large schools such as Norman Thomas, which have had to absorb an influx of students who otherwise would have attended large neighborhood schools now replaced by smaller ones.

As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close, the small school movement shows no sign of abating, although the Gates Foundation, an early proponent and supporter of small schools has moved on to other causes.

What will the new decade bring? Will efforts by students and teachers at Norman Thomas, Maxwell, Beach Channel, Paul Robeson, and others be enough to sway the PEP? Should these "failing" schools be closed? Stay tuned…and let us know what you think about the future of the small schools movement.