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City Studies

New School on the Block

In November of 2014, mayor Bill de Blasio released a School Renewal Program for 94 of New York City’s lowest performing schools. The Academy of Urban Planning in Bushwick, Brooklyn is one of these schools. What is the plan for these 94 schools? What is the future of the Academy of Urban Planning and it’s students?

In the fall of 2015, CUP collaborated with teaching artist Aubrey Murdock and Aisha Haynes-Harrison’s 10th grade English class at the Academy of Urban Planning to figure out what it means to be labeled a “Renewal School.”

To investigate, students brainstormed ways they noticed their school had changed since 2014, then interviewed a panel of experts from the school’s own administration, a representative of the Coalition for Educational Justice, and a Community School Coordinator. They created a booklet to help other students and schools understand the School Renewal Program and what people think about these new changes.