Governor Andrew Cuomo is weighing in with his turnaround plan for failing schools state-wide. Cuomo specifically points to 27-failing Buffalo Public Schools in presenting his reform plan.
The state said there 178 failing schools in New York, with more than 109,000 students currently enrolled. Governor Cuomo calls it 'a real scandal in Albany.'
A report issued said a school is designated as "failing" if they are in the bottom five percent of schools statewide. It is based on combined ELA and math scores, schools not showing progress in test performance or have graduation rates that are below 60 percent for the last three years.
In Buffalo, the report lists 27-failing schools. 14 reporting to be failing for a decade.
The Governor is proposing a receivership model used in Massachusetts for failing schools. That would allow outside individuals or non-profit organizations to take over individual schools or the entire district.
Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Don Ogilivie said the Governor is 'bold' for tackling the problem head-on. "We have come to that bend in the road where we need to do something different. He said Buffalo and I don't think there is any question that Buffalo's situation and circumstances and track record has captured his attention."
A majority of the failing Buffalo Schools are in the legislative districts of Assembly woman Crystal People Stokes and State Senator Tim Kennedy. WBFO News recently asked Kennedy about the troubled city school district.
"It all starts, as far as I'm concerned, with the funding in the budget, that's why we are pushing for $2-billion in more school aid for our children in public schools across the state," said Kennedy.
The Gov. wants the legislature to take action and criticizes the government for standing by for years without fixing failing schools.
But Assemblyman Sean Ryan of Buffalo is critical of the Governor's report.
"There's 695 school districts in New York State. Only 17 (districts) have failing schools. So this idea that we need broad based education reform -- it's missing the mark," said Ryan.
Ryan said more attention needs to be paid to what is happening in those 17-districts. He points out some districts, like Buffalo, experiencing high concentration of poverty rates.
"Some are as high, 75%," said Ryan. "Put more concentrated resources by trying to fix those schools."