WHEREAS, transfer schools serve under-credited, overage students who have encountered difficulties in other high schools; and

WHEREAS, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) holds all high schools, in order to be in good standing, to a 67% graduation rate; and

WHEREAS, New York State, similar to all states, must apply this graduation rate indicator to high schools; and

WHEREAS, dedicated staff in these transfer schools is giving students struggling with many challenges an alternative to dropping out and another chance to obtain a high school diploma outside of the traditional four year timeline; and

WHEREAS, a strict and inappropriate application of federal graduation requirements to transfer schools may result in identification as a comprehensive or targeted support and improvement school, with concomitant interventions, including possible closure; and

WHEREAS, accountability determinations for transfer schools should be sensible and appropriate for students the staff at transfer schools educates; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT, in collaboration with its state-wide affiliate NYSUT, will continue to work with the New York State Department of Education and the New York State Board of Regents to develop accountability determinations and interventions for transfer schools in the New York State ESSA plan that make sense for the students in these schools and that recognize the progress transfer schools make in serving their students.