Schools Get Green Light To Get Creative With Schedules, Teaching Methods
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of New York City schools are getting to cut the bureaucratic red tape and try out new ideas for size in the coming school year.
At least 70 New York City schools have been approved to begin delivering creative and flexible schedules, and methods of learning, to deal with the needs of students, teachers and the community, 1010 WINS' Juliet Papa reported.
As WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported, Mark House, principal of Community Health Academy in Washington Heights, said some ideas seem like no-brainers, such as teaching children to cook healthy food by using the school's kitchen. But a Board of Education regulation will not allow it.
"And yet, we're frequently cooking on hot plates, because it's really challenging to get into our kitchen," House said.
But this year, the schools across the city are participating in a new program approved under the new union contract, and a Department of Education that lets them implement plans such as staggering the school day and changing student-to-teacher ratios.
Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina said it will encourage creativity and innovation to raise student achievement.
"Looking at how you use your staff and use it in interesting ways, it just makes a lot of sense," Farina said.
Some schools have even raised the idea of year-round classes with two-week breaks in between.
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