New Chancellor Moves Against 16 N.Y.C. Schools

By Joanna Richardson

Chancellor Rudy Crew has punctuated his first weeks on the job in New York City with swift action to prod 16 troubled schools to clean up their acts.

State officials had cited severe shortcomings at the schools as far back as 1989.

Mr. Crew made the announcement last month, days after the state education commissioner, Richard P. Mills, sent investigators to check on those schools. They found unprepared teachers, outdated practices, and some classes in "near chaos," according to...