POLICY ISSUES: EDUCATION & YOUTH

Educating our youth to become successful adults and meet the challenges of our rapidly changing economy has been a key focus of Borough President Ruben Diaz. By working closely with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and providing capital funding to Bronx education and youth initiatives, Borough President Diaz has ensured that more Bronx youth have better access to new state of the art technology, improved facilities and more opportunities to succeed.

IMPROVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

Funding Education Initiatives

Since taking office, The Borough President's Office has given over $50 million in funds to education and youth related initiatives including: school libraries; Mobile Science Labs; new computers; SmartBoards; school based health clinics; Media Centers; playgrounds and youth centers.

Building More Public Schools

Having the funding to build and renovate new schools is essential to addressing overcrowding and the lack of adequate resources that occurs in too many of our schools. In order to ensure that Bronx students get their fair share of public school funding for better school buildings, the Borough President supported the ‘DOE 2005-2009 Capital Plan’ budget –the largest in New York City history- which will add 21 additional schools in The Bronx.

Advocating for Gyms

In 2008 The Borough President released the report, “More Than Child’s Play”, documenting the severe lack of physical education programs and recreational space in Bronx schools.  As a result of this report the Borough President is working with the DOE to create more gyms and gym programs in our schools.

CONTINUING WORK FOR THE FUTURE

the High School Dropout Crisis

More than 170,000 of this city’s young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. Borough President Diaz will focus on dropouts as well as programs with preventative measures to reengage struggling students in the education system. 

Increasing After School Programs

Every day over 150,000 high school students do not have access to after school programs. The Borough President study, “Fighting for Youth Programs”, revealed that the City is failing to provide after-school programs.

The Bronx Children’s Museum

The Borough President is working to create a Bronx Children’s Museum. Borough President Diaz recently committed $2.5 million to the creation of The Bronx Children's Museum. A Board has been established, pilot programming is in progress, and 501c3 status gained. The Bronx Children’s Museum will be a place where children can learn and will particularly focus on fostering a love of learning in very young children, and early language and literacy.