Assemblyman William Colton (D – Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, and Dyker Heights) is reacting to the announcement by Mayor de Blasio of a plan to jumpstart the academic recovery for NYC school children.

“I am a former NYC public school teacher for eleven years; this plan lacks specifics and is too little in face of a $6.9 billion increase in funds for city schools. For 6.9 billion additional monies over three years, we should specify the maximum class size in all schools and provide specific additional remedial help and resources for those children assessed as underperforming,” Colton stated.

The academic plan must not simply set broad goals but specify the specific educational improvements to reach such goals. What will be the new minimum class size? What specific remedial services will be provided in addition to the purchase of new library books? How many more teachers will be needed to staff reduced-size classes? How many tutors and coaches will be required, and will such hires be certified teachers?” Colton asks.

“Improving the quality of education requires more than universal goals. It needs specifics on what educational techniques and resources will be implemented to achieve such goals,” Colton said.

Our children have suffered greatly due to the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 remote learning implementation. There must be concrete programs and resources needed in order to help our children academically recover from the most difficult COVID period,” Colton added.