IBM Works with City University to Open Computer-Focused School in New York

IBM has stepped up to the plate to show its commitment to computer education and improve the future of New York City’s public school students.

The City of New York has announced that it will launch new partnerships with the private sector, including one with IBM (News - Alert) and the City University of New York.

Working together, the partnership will open a new school that runs from ninth grade through sophomore year of college (grade 14), allowing students to earn an associate’s degree and be first in line for a job at IBM.

Students will receive instruction in the traditional core subjects, while also learning the basics of computer science. All students will have the opportunity to graduate from grade 14 with an associate’s degree and possible job placement with IBM.

The partnership was announced last week by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (News - Alert), as he kicked off NBC’s “Education Nation” summit by announcing plans to prepare every New York City student for college and careers in an increasingly competitive global economy.

To ensure that every child has access to an effective teacher, the city will use a $36 million Teacher Incentive Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to enlist highly-skilled teachers to work in low-performing schools and mentor fellow instructors.

New technology and strategies that help personalize learning for every child will lead to the creation of 400 Innovation Schools over the next three years.

The city will also change the way it grants tenure, moving to a rating system that will ensure tenure is linked to classroom performance.

The city will also create a joint task force, supported by a $3 million award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to focus on aligning standards between the City’s K-12 public schools and community colleges in an effort to double college completion rates by the end of the decade.

“Each and every one of us has a role to play in taking an education system that has fallen far behind the times, and moving it into the 21st century,” Bloomberg said. “New York City is stepping up to that challenge and laying the foundation to ensure that every child who graduates high school is ready to start college or a career. By rewarding teachers who make a real difference, bringing technology into our classrooms and creating partnerships with the private sector, we will build upon the improvements we have made over the last eight years and give New York City children the future they deserve.”

The city has begun to pilot a range of innovations in 80 schools – in technology, time spent in the classroom, and instructional delivery. Forty schools will pilot a “virtual school” model that integrates online learning with face-to-face classroom instruction, allowing students to learn at their own pace. Seven schools will pilot innovations in the way schools use time and staffing, implementing new ways to extend the school year and increase time spent in the classroom. And 30 schools will be introducing technology that helps teachers evaluate student progress in real time.

In a related matter, Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker said about $40 million has been raised so far to match the $100 million donation to the city's school system from Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg (News - Alert).