A PROPOSAL TO REIMAGINE NYC SCHOOLS

January 16, 2020

Dear Pratt Community,

As we approach the beginning of the spring semester, we hope that everyone has had a relaxing break and that you are feeling recharged for the new year. We have so much to look forward to in the coming months as new opportunities and initiatives take shape.

We are excited to share one of these initiatives. Pratt Institute is partnering with Bank Street College of Education to submit a proposal for Imagine Schools NYC, an initiative launched by the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to create 20 new public schools and transform 20 existing schools across New York City. This is an incredible opportunity for Pratt to bring its unique expertise in design, design thinking, and practical problem solving into the future of public schools in New York City and our neighborhood.

The Pratt and Bank Street collaboration aligns with the values of our two New York City institutions, connecting Pratt’s academic excellence in art and design as well as our history of engagement with K-12 learning and the local community with Bank Street’s visionary, inquiry-based approach to student and educator learning. Together, our two institutions are imagining a Brooklyn high school that teaches creative and strategic skills to all students. There were more than 230 pre-proposals submitted to DOE and we are now one of 90 semi-finalists selected to participate in the next round of a competitive selection process.

Our concept reflects a shared commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable world through education by redefining the classroom experience as one that fosters critical and creative investigation in an open and diverse setting. The high school would empower the next generation of leaders to use creative thinking for change and would bring them into the creative economy of which our college is a vital part.

As the multi-step process moves forward, we will bring you updates on new developments and how the Pratt and Bank Street communities can participate and provide feedback.

We wish you a productive and fulfilling semester and all the best in 2020.

Sincerely,

Frances Bronet
President

Kirk E. Pillow
Provost