[ProgressiveEd] URGENT for April 10th meeting

[MAMASWIRLZ@aol.com]

After appeals from teachers and parents, the city's Department of Education
added 119 more schools to the list of those that will not have to implement
a standardized reading and math curriculum starting in September. The
department gave 31 schools and programs a two year exemption and another 88
schools  - which the department declined to identify - a one year exemption.
Along with 209 other schools that in February were granted freedom from
Chancellor Joel Klein's requirement of a standardized instructional
approach, a total of 328 schools - or one in four - will be permitted to use
whatever curricula works for them. The rest of the city's schools will be
given a uniform teaching system that Mayor Michael Bloomberg hopes will
raise test scores.