Public education in New York is a failure, and Mayor Bloomberg and [New York City School] Chancellor Joel Klein are the ones responsible. The educational disparity between white and minority (black and Latino) students has increased, in spite of "victories" that New York City's current administration have claimed.

The racial divide in education is at the same level it was in 2002 when Michael Bloomberg was elected mayor of the Big Apple. And when he was elected, he said that he would assess the educational progress of more than one million public school students.

The grade that Bloomberg and Klein deserve, after 10 years of warping reality, is an F.

Two years ago, Bloomberg said that they were closing the gap between whites and minorities. "In some cases, even by 50 percent," said Mayor Bloomberg. "70 percent of students meet the statewide exam standards."

Lies.

The truth: Only 40 percent of black students and 46 percent of Latino students passed their math exams, compared to 75 percent of white students and 82 percent of Asian students.

With the English exams, only 34 percent of Latinos and 33 percent of blacks passed, while 64 percent of white and Asian students achieved good grades.

This data came to light last month, in the report submitted by the Educational Testing Service—the entity that develops, administers, and evaluates the exams for public schools across the nation.

And Chancellor Klein has the audacity to say that "there has been excellent progress. We haven't made a miracle, but a permanent advance has been made."

Klein said that they will continue concentrating on schools with below-standard academic results, and will continue closing those establishments that do not improve. Mayor Bloomberg's administration has also offered money to families that take their children to the dentist and require their children to do their homework and to not miss school. He mentioned these strategies as part of his educational "success."

Thus far, the Department of Education has closed 91 public schools and has opened 100 charter schools, which are private and operate under government contract.

Good deal.

How is it possible that nobody in the educational system has noticed the difference between the 70 percent that Bloomberg claims, and the 45 percent, which is the sad truth? Where is the teachers' union that Bloomberg negotiated lucrative contracts with, in order to be re-elected three times? What has been the role of the powerful mainstream media?

"The educational successes were based on erroneous information," said Michael Petrilli, vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which studies educational policy. Their statements appeared in the New York Times. "They have made a bit of progress, but nothing like the educational miracle that Bloomberg and Klein are claiming."

In 2007, New York City even won the prestigious Urban Education Award, granted by the Board Foundation, owing to the "reduction of the educational racial divide." Former President George Bush also congratulated Mayor Bloomberg's administration for its educational achievements, which fit very well within the national No Child Left Behind program.

The Bloomberg administration should return the prize in the style of the Olympic athletes who are found guilty of doping or cheating.

The truth is that black and Latino students are being left behind, studying in public schools that do not get enough money, with mediocre teachers, and where very little of them is demanded. This reality is holding them back, not only in their exams, but in their capacity to compete in the future job market as well.