"There's a reason why the teachers' union has spent $60 million in Albany over the past five years: to get politicians like Andrea Stewart-Cousins to put their interests over the hundreds of thousands of kids victimized by a failing system. In Yonkers, 4 out of 5 students cannot read or do math on grade level -- they need a Senator, too. Governor Cuomo's plan will give our best teachers $20,000 bonuses, will cover tuition to get the best and brightest into our classrooms, and will increase funding for all children. Governor Cuomo is fighting for kids; Senator Stewart-Cousins should too."

-- Tenicka Boyd, public school parent and StudentsFirstNY Director of Organizing

The facts clearly show that closing failing high schools in New York City is working.

The one policy that has arguably done more to improve education outcomes for kids in New York City over the past decade has been the systematic effort to close the City’s giant failing high schools (i.e. drop out factories) and replace them with new, smaller high schools.