The city’s chief academic officer says school support networks have improved dramatically in the last few years while saving the city money. Ahead of this week’s City Council hearing on the topic, he says the networks let principals choose their peer groups and give them one place to go for answers on a variety of topics.

A top education official outlines the city’s goal of improving the quality of learning and teaching so that more students are prepared to enter – and graduate from – college. He says when the focus is on developing resilient and independent thinkers, strong test scores will follow.