Rocco Basile

Rocco Basile reports on last year's NYC graduation rates which improved slightly over 2009, according to the State Education department. But student college readiness lagged at 21. percent compared to the rest of the state at 36.7 percent. more »

Unemployment, and a weak labor market has caused more adults to go back to school. more »

A recent study by the association of Teachers and Lecturers says that eight-in 10 staff members had students under the poverty level in their classrooms. more »

Head Start, the federal early-education program for children from low-income families, is facing budget cuts, as Congress trims spending to reduce the nation’s deficit. All this would accommodate President Obama’s 2011 budget request of $8.2 billion. And this is happening even as people like Senator Lisa Murkowski, who is a Republican from Alaska. Murkowski is receiving an award for her long support for the Head Start, the preschool program for poor children. And I, Rocco Basile, as chairman of the board of Brooklyn, New York-based charity known as Children of the City, am also soon to get an award. more »

Rocco Basile comments on the fact that Bill Gates is advocating paying teachers based on classroom performance. more »