Nyack Partners In Education (PIE) is a not-for-profit grass roots organization devoted to public school reform. Located in the Nyack School District in Rockland County, New York, PIE emphasizes diversity, parental involvement and innovative education for all students.
Nyack PIE's foundation was laid in the late 80's when a group of parents of color came together to discuss issues of racial bias in the district. That original group, known as the Parent's Coalition (the very beginning) worked diligently on these issues for a number of years. In the early 90's an influx of new parents started to research systemic educational reform. It became Nyack Partners In Education in the fall of 1993.
PIE's initial aim was to research and bring to the Nyack School District's attention, programs that appreciated cultural diversity, built interdisciplinary, holistic curriculum, and emphasized cooperative learning and community service.
To that end, numerous speakers were brought in from around the country, alternative schools were visited, and free literature was dispensed. (Library) After a year of research, PIE presented a draft proposal to district site-based management teams as well as to the Board of Education outlining the idea of an alternative program within the existing public school system.
The proposal emphasized multi-cultural studies, multi-age classrooms, detracking, hands on learning, anti-bias awareness and inclusion for special ed children. The Board and the administration never officially responded to the proposal, but aspects of these programs have found their way into Nyack's schools.
As PIE was proposing an alternative future for Nyack, it also began to deal more and more with its present problems. In a district which serves approximately 40% children of color, the faculty and staff continues to be less than 15% non-white. Academic results show a disproportionate number of black children in lower tracks, special ed and disciplinary situations.
PIE began to model alternative educational methods. Through grants and local fund raising initiatives, PIE has sponsored hands-on learning in the community, weekend and summer reading programs, an elementary school foreign language program, field trips, mini-grants to encourage teachers' innovative class ideas, and tutoring aimed at leveling the scholastic playing field.
In the Spring of 1999 PIE and the NAACP joined forces and issued a report based on data collected by the district itself over the past decade. The resulting public debate led to a diversity consultant being hired (see Tulin Report) and a Task Force of over 80 community members that put together a series of recommendations to tackle this difficult issue. Through the efforts of PIE and the NAACP an Achievement Gap has been defined and the Board and Administration are beginning to deal with it.
PIE has become a local voice for educational justice. even as it has been instrumental in passing school budgets, electing board representatives and extending transportation to low-income students.
Grants Received
Hazen Foundation Rockland Arts Foundation
Nyack Foundation for Education
Programs Sponsored
Saturday Morning Reading Circle
Book Gifting to Valley Cottage Elementary Library
Elementary School Foreign Language
One-on-One Tutoring
Saturday Project
Field Trips
"Colonial Day" Field Trip
Inter-grade (3rd/9th) Natural History Museum Workshop
"Eagle Watch" sponsored with Hudson River Foundation
"Skunk Hollow" (local African American historical site)
African- American Art Museum, NYC
Subjects Addressed by Visiting Speakers
Anti-Racism (see Enid Lee Archive)
Efficacy
Charter Schools
Hands-On-Teaching
Detracking
African-American Studies
Special Education
Updated 3/28/2000
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