BUFFALO, N.Y.—The clock is ticking for leaders of New York’s most chronically underperforming public schools, who under a new state law must quickly begin to turn things around or lose control to an outsider—a tactic that has produced mixed results elsewhere.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo points to Massachusetts, where education officials say giving a state-appointed leader, or receiver, the freedom to lengthen school days, replace principals, and make other changes has been working.
But with 144 schools in 17 New York districts now targeted, opinions vary on whether taking schools, and broad powers, away from school boards is the answer.
Receivership is the state’s way of shifting the blame from its own failure to adequately support struggling schools, most of which are in impoverished districts, said Karen Magee, president of New York State United Teachers.
