Back to school in NYC

Mayor Bill de Blasio will spotlight the successes of his education policies as students head back to school. De Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina plan to welcome students at a school on Staten Island on Wednesday. Farina will also visit a school in each of the city's other four boroughs.

De Blasio and his administration face challenges that include helping the city's 94 "renewal" schools improve enough that they won't have to close.

Farina said Tuesday that closing some struggling schools remains an option. She said in an interview with WNYC radio that she sees closing schools as a last resort.

The school year also marks the second year of de Blasio's signature full-day pre-kindergarten program. About 70,000 children are expected to participate.

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