I am a product of this school or should I say second home; and I found my way along with many of my fellow colleagues through the halls and guidance the people of Bushwick Outreach / Bushwick Community High School had provided for us. Without this school I wouldn't know where I would be. Going to Bushwick Outreach created opportunities for myself as well as many others who thought there were no options left. " Transfer Schools " are effective at least this one was for me.

By definition, transfer schools simply cant meet the same benchmarks for accountability as traditional 4-year high schools. Most transfer schools ONLY accept students who have dropped out of another school and/or are not on track with their cohort for graduation. The graduation requirements--Regents exams, credit accumulation, etc--are the same, but to expect these schools to graduate kids with their cohort is ridiculous and, frankly, predatory. Transfer schools, like many of the best schools in our city, save lives--that matters, and to me, it matters more than test scores or other baseless metrics.

I've worked at South Brooklyn Community High School, a transfer school, for ten years. I can say that without a doubt we make a difference. I know hundreds of students who regularly post to my facebook page how they were helped by SBCHS and my work. We may not graduate them in 6 years, for many of them they need time to break bad habits, re learn skills and learn to believe in themselves again. I know for sure that we make a difference, I've dedicated my career to that idea. SBCHS is next up on the chopping block if the policy doesn't change, this is just not fair to the many students who need us.