On Friday, January 17, 2020, Department of Education Chancellor Richard Carranza spoke at the 165th CityLaw Breakfast at New York Law School. Chancellor Carranza was introduced by Professor Ross Sandler, Director of the Center for New York City Law, with opening remarks by Dean Anthony W. Crowell. Chancellor Carranza spoke on the importance of investing in the City’s students and ensuring resources are provided for their success.
Chancellor Carranza opened his remarks by talking about the large size of the City’s school system and noted the diversity of the students in City’s school system. He explained how many of the City’s students face challenges such as living in underserved communities or are English language learners and stated that equity is needed to ensure that every student is able to succeed. Chancellor Carranza mentions the Department’s initiatives like 3K and Pre-K for All, Universal Literacy Program, and AP for All and how they have contributed to increasing the students’ academic achievements and have narrowed the opportunity gap in the City. He noted the increase in graduation rates, State exam results, and college and career readiness in the City’s schools.
Chancellor Carranza also noted the importance of creating a safe and supportive school environment for students. He mentioned that it is important to encourage social and emotional learning in schools to ensure students are not only academically ready but socially and emotionally ready to tackle school and life challenges. Chancellor Carranza also talked about the use of restorative justice practices and implicit bias training for teachers in creating a safe and supportive school environment and noted that suspensions and violent crime in schools have been down. He emphasized that social and emotional learning do not diminish academics but rather helps students on schoolwork and healthily cope with the stressors they face.
Chancellor Carranza noted that going forward, he wants to make the curriculum more diverse and inclusive to reflect the identities and stories of the City’s students. He closed his remarks by stating that he is committed to investing in students’ futures and to changing the narrative of the City’s public school system.
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