March 2004

Dear New Yorkers,

How far has public education come in the last decade?

It's a fair question, and it's one that is being asked frequently these days.

The answer will surprise many people. New York's public education system, as a whole, has made remarkable progress; so much so, in fact, that excellence - yes, excellence - is now commonplace in many more school districts than in the past.

The vast majority of New York's public schools are succeeding, and excellence is broadly and deeply found in every corner of the state. Yet, as the title of this report so aptly notes, it is an education revolution no one is talking about.

This report is a way to begin restoring context and perspective to the debate over public school performance. It addresses an observation made by many NYSUT members, that the constant drumbeat of negativity over test scores, drop-out rates, No Child Left Behind, education funding and the like feeds harmful misconceptions and myths about public education. The truth is, NYSUT members perform miracles large and small every day, and their work is reflected in this explosion of excellence.

We also acknowledge that excellence is not everywhere. While virtually all public schools have taken long strides forward in the last decade, all must continue their efforts to raise achievement. The performance gap between white and minority students, and between low-need and high-need schools, is narrowing, but not fast enough. We again call on the state to increase its investment in public education - ensuring adequacy and equity for all - with the knowledge that its commitment is improving the lives of children and brightening New York's future.

The discussion over how to further improve public education must continue. But, it must continue with a more balanced view of how far New York's public schools have come.

The focus on what's wrong with public education should not blind us to all that is right with public education.