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May 27th, 2009

How you can support reforms to NYC’s system of mayoral control of schools?

Below are the legislators who are championing the effort to fix the problems of our present system of mayoral control. They are fighting to ensure that the reauthorization of mayoral control includes increased checks and balances, transparency, and parental and community involvement.


  • Senator Kevin Parker

  • Senator Eric Adams

  • Senator Ruben Diaz

  • Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson

  • Senator Shirley Huntley

  • Senator Velmanette Montgomery

  • Senator Bill Perkins

  • Senator John Sampson

  • Senator Diane Savino

  • Assemblyman Carl E. Heastie

  • Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Aubry

  • Assemblywoman Inez Barron

  • Assemblyman William Boyland

  • Assemblyman Nelson L. Castro

  • Assemblyman William Colton

  • Assemblywoman Vivian Cook

  • Assemblywoman Deborah J. Glick

  • Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer

  • Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries

  • Assemblyman David Koon

  • Assemblywoman Grace Meng

  • Assemblyman N. Nick Perry

  • Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal

  • Assemblyman Matthew Titone

  • Assemblyman Darryl C. Towns

  • Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright

If your legislator is not pictured above, contact them today by clicking HERE!

Why Should Mayoral Control of Schools be Reformed?

Mayoral control has locked parents out of important decisions that impact the quality of education their children receive. 

The Department of Education (DOE) has routinely failed to engage school communities on critical decisions such as school closings and the placement of new schools inside existing neighborhood schools.

They have implemented several citywide reorganizations that have left parents with nowhere to go to get important issues resolved.

Children were left stranded when DOE failed to properly plan and implement a mid-winter reorganization of school bus routes with no public input.

Is one-man rule working for our children and our communities?

Under mayoral control, 4th and 8th graders have shown no significant progress according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the nation’s report card and gold standard for testing. And while graduation rates have inched up, less than 4 in 10 NYC students graduate with a Regents diploma.

Under mayoral control the achievement gap has not narrowed according to NAEP results; results on state achievement tests show a similar lack of significant progress in closing the achievement gap. In addition, proportionately fewer African American and Hispanic students are taking the admissions exam for specialized high schools, and even lower percentages are passing. 

Under mayoral control the percentage of Black and Latino teachers has declined to less than 26%, even though more than 75% of our students are Black and Latino.

With Some Changes, Mayoral Control Can Work for ALL Communities.

Checks and Balances
Reasonable checks and balances through an independent Panel for Education Policy where a majority of members are appointed by someone other than the mayor, members have fixed terms of office rather than being removed at-will, the board has defined powers rather than being a rubber stamp and the Chancellor is an ex-officio member who is appointed by the Mayor.
 

Transparency
So we can all know what is really going on at DOE by requiring the Independent Budget Office to produce reports on DOE finances and academic achievement.

Public Participation
Meaningful parent, student and community participation in DOE decision making by creating an independent Center for Parent and Student Service and Empowerment to outreach, train, and support parents and students; strengthening the powers of the School Leadership Teams and Community Education Councils; and establishing a process for community input in opening and closing of schools.

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