City Controller Scott Stringer says one-third of city schools were overcrowded in 2012, and he's pointing the finger at the Department of Education. 

Stringer said in a new report that the DOE failed to address the problem effectively, and didn't track whether or not recommendations to reduce overcrowding had been implemented. 

His office audited schools between 2010 and 2012, concluding that overcrowding in both elementary and middle schools increased slightly during that period. 



The audit also makes several recommendations to the DOE, including a system to keep better records on classroom overcrowding and the efforts being made to address the problem. 

Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina says that education officials and Mayor Bill de Blasio are working to combat the issue. She adds that the city is planning to add tens of thousands of new classroom seats.