NEW YORK, NY December 21, 2007 —The state Education Department has placed more elementary and middle schools on its list of schools needing improvement. This brings the total to 444 out of New York's 1,000 K-8 schools.

Sixty-one low-income city schools were added to the state list. Having a school placed on the list means students have the right to transfer.

Twenty-two schools were being removed for showing clear improvement in student performance.

Standardized test scores and other measures are used to determine if a school is making adequate progress in educating students to the state's standards.

The DOE's Web site, www.nysed.gov, has a list of the schools needing improvement.