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Today's Lead: City to Reduce Role of Standardized Tests


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Standardized state tests will no longer be the dominant factor in deciding whether students in third through eighth grades in city schools are held back or promoted, Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced Wednesday. Now, teachers will compile "promotion portfolios," which can include test scores, writing samples, projects, and report cards. The final promotion decision will be made by school principals, with oversight from district superintendents. Meanwhile, students will no longer be given a test at the end of summer school, instead the students' summer work would be added to their portfolio. The practice is used in private schools, charter schools, other districts around the state, and even city high schools. The changes, due to take effect this spring, come in response to legislation passed as part of the state budget and push-back against the previous policy, which was adopted a decade ago by the Bloomberg Administration and has left many parents upset. Despite the change, the number of children held back is expected to remain about the same. The plan needs to be approved by the city's Panel for Educational Policy in May, but is expected to pass.

New this morning from Gotham Gazette
Kill Fee: The Price of Silencing Moreland
David King reports on the money spent by the corruption commission convened and disbanded by Governor Cuomo with minimal results.

ICYMI from Gotham Gazette
De Blasio's Hundred Days, Then and Now
Ben Max examines Bill de Blasio's first hundred days as mayor, as public advocate, and as a city council member, finding some common threads.

City Council Member Item Process Continues
Kristen Meriwether obtained a second internal city council document and follows up on the ongoing rules reform and discretionary funding processes in the Council.

100 Days of De Blasio (Public Statements)/
A visual representation of the 50 words appearing most often in a large sample of the mayor's speeches, press releases, and public statements.

Other Stories We're Following

US Attorney Criticizes Cuomo’s Closing of Corruption Panel (NY Times)

Council Members Vent Sandy Frustrations (Crain's)

Twenty de Blasio Promises, 100 Days In (Capital)

Missteps Aside, de Blasio to Focus Anew on Activist Style (NY Times)

Immigrants Bolster Housing Values (WSJ)

Atlantic Avenue Speed Limit Lowered to 25 MPH (WSJ)

Businesses Waiting for Sandy Aid, Too (WNYC)

Here's Green Party Candidate Howie Hawkins (Capital)

Black Boxes Might Come to Taxis to Catch Speedsters (Daily News)

City Food Inspectors May Get Google Glass to Record Reviews (NY Post)

J&R Shutting Down Electronics Store (Daily News)

Today's Lead: Mayor To Allow Religious Groups In School Buildings


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Mayor Bill de Blasio said yesterday that he will allow religious groups to rent space in public school buildings when classes are not in session. The announcement comes a week after a federal appeals court ruled that the City could ban the practice if it wished. "I’ve said very clearly what I believe: that a faith-based organization has a right like anyone else waiting in line to use that space," the mayor said. "We will, as a result of the court decision, update our rules and refine our rules to make clear some specific parameters." Schools chancellor Carmen Fariña had said in the past that she was opposed to allowing the practice, but has not spoken out on the issue working under a mayor who supports it.

New this morning from Gotham Gazette
De Blasio's Hundred Days, Then and Now
Ben Max examines Bill de Blasio's first hundred days as mayor, as public advocate, and as a city council member, finding some common threads.

City Council Member Item Process Continues
Kristen Meriwether obtained a second internal city council document and follows up on the ongoing rules reform and discretionary funding processes in the Council.

Also from Gotham Gazette
100 Days of De Blasio (Public Statements)
A visual representation of the 50 words appearing most often in a large sample of the mayor's speeches, press releases, and public statements.

New York Launches I-STOP to Curb Overdose Deaths
Rebecca Bratek reports on a state-wide initiative aimed at reducing abuse of prescription drugs and the loss of life that can often result from drug addiction.

Other Stories We're Following

De Blasio Picks Immigrants To Lead Two City Agencies (NY Times)

Council To Introduce Bill For Municipal ID Cards (Capital)

New Finance Chief: Property-Tax System Needs Change (NY Post)

Federal Investigators: Captain's Error Led To 2013 Ferry Crash (WSJ)

Report Details Woes For City's Electric-Cab Experiment (City Limits)

City To Finally Implement Bank Law Passed In 2012 (Crain's)

Man Released From Prison After Murder Conviction Dismissed (WSJ)

MTA Blocked Lawmaker's Ad For Deporting Suspected Nazi (Daily News)

Bratton: NYPD Overtime Makes Up For Lower Headcount (NY Observer)

Stringer Pushes For Supply-Side Diversity (Capital)

City Settles Lawsuit By Detective Called A 'Rat' (NY Times)

Today's Lead: Grading De Blasio's First 100 Days


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New York Times/Siena College Poll finds that New Yorkers are generally reserving judgement on Mayor Bill de Blasio's overall performance as he approaches 100 days in office, but are mixed when it comes to assessing how he has handled the bevy of issues that his administration has confronted so far. Forty nine percent of those polled approve of the job de Blasio’s is doing as mayor, while 59 percent say the jury is still out on the administration. Sixty nine percent of those surveyed support de Blasio’s proposal to raise taxes on those who make over $500,000 a year to fund citywide prekindergarten (a plan which appears dead, at least for now). Fifty percent of those polled are dissatisfied with de Blasio’s early efforts on income inequality, his signature issue. De Blasio earned high approval ratings on his work to win prekindergarten funding from Albany and his handling of stop and frisk. Meanwhile, a majority of those surveyed said they haven't heard enough of police chief Bill Bratton to form an opinion.

New from Gotham Gazette

New York Launches I-STOP To Curb Overdose Deaths

Rebecca Bratek reports on State efforts to limit prescription drug abuse and the deaths that can result.

Other news from Gotham Gazette

Push To Reform NYPD Crisis Response May Lead to State-Wide Program

David King looks at how the city's police force is less prepared to work with the mentally ill than it should be - and changes afoot to improve the situation.

Charter Oversight Hearing Postponed

Kristen Meriwether looks at the controversial City Council charter school oversight hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday, 4/8, but has been postponed.


Other Stories We're Following

Malcolm Smith's Bribery Trial Set For June (NY Post)

Sharpton Linked to Spying on Mafia (NY Times)

Charles Barron Crashes News Conference to Rip de Blasio (Daily News)

Average City Woman Earns 82 Cents On The Dollar Compared to Men(Daily News)

Harvard Professor to Lead Brooklyn DA Conviction Review Unit (WSJ)

State Budget Restores Millions For Spinal Cord Injury Research (WSJ)

What Public Financing Would do to Statewide Coffers (YNN)

NY Officials Join Fight Over Palisades Tower (Capital)

Schumer Endorses Rangel (Capital)

City's Finance Commissioner Resigns (Crain's)

Quiet Labor Deal Gave $3 Million in Back Pay to Elevator Workers(DNAinfo)



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