NYT: Klein to Overhaul Alternative Schools Programs to Deter Potential Dropouts

Amid recent news that New York City's high school graduation rate improved in the last year, but still remains shockingly low (at 50%), School Chancellor Joel Klein announced today a major overhaul of the city's alternative schools, drop-out prevention efforts, and GED programs. Several alternative school programs, mini-schools aimed at students considered most at risk of abandoning school because of problems like poverty, prison, drug addictions or pregnancy, that the City says are not successful, will be phased out. The plan also called for opening new “referral service center” in each borough, and changes to city-sponsored GED programs.