DeB dread of class

Billy’s poor grades for running schools: poll

Mayor de Blasio is not making the grade with his handling of city schools, according to a new poll of registered Democrats.

A survey of 601 city voters found 57 percent believe that public schools are heading in the wrong direction.

A total of 53 percent said they disapprove of de Blasio’s overall stewardship of the nation’s largest system, according to Democratic pollster Fred Yang of Garin Hart Yang Research Group.

Conducted from Feb. 17-22, the survey was commissioned by Education Equity Campaign, an advocacy group that backs the expansion of accelerated education programs.

The organization includes cosmetics executive Ronald Lauder, a graduate of Bronx Science HS.

In a similar poll conducted in March 2019, only 42 percent of registered Democrats disapproved of Hizzoner’s school performance while 50 percent felt that the system was on the wrong course.

The new poll also found that 77 percent want to maintain the current system of specialized high schools — while 88 percent also back public financing for expanded prep classes for the entrance exam.

Education Equity has backed City Council legislation that would compel the city to fund universal test prep.

Critics of the single-test entry system argue that it is a narrow measure of student potential that has elbowed out African-American and Hispanic kids from contention.

Backers counter that the test is a color-blind assessment of preparation that has forged some of the country’s strongest public schools.

The poll also found that 80 percent support the expansion of Gifted and Talented classes.

De Blasio recently announced that the program would be completely revamped next year.

“It’s clear the mayor has lost the faith of public school parents in our city,” said the Rev. Kirsten John Foy, an EEC board member. “We need leadership that’s prepared to tackle the inequities in our education system that have been made worse by the pandemic.”

City Hall spokesperson Avery Cohen said: “The Mayor moved heaven and earth to reopen our schools, and the results have paid off. That’s what leadership looks like.”