Mayoral Control of the New York City Schools

Event: Mayoral Control of the New York City Schools

Sponsors:

• The League of Women Voters of the City of New York and
• Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Time: 6 PM – 8 PM
Day & Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Location:
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
42 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036

Register Online:
http://www.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event.php?eventid=1056

Contact:
Please call the League at 212-725-3541 if you have any questions.

Moderator:
MARCIA KRAMER, Chief Political Correspondent, WCBS-TV

Speakers:

• CHRISTOPHER D. CERF
  Deputy Chancellor, New York City Department of Education
• HON. CATHERINE T. NOLAN
  Member of Assembly, Chair, New York State Assembly's Committee on Education
• DIANE RAVITCH
  Research Professor of Education, New York University
  Author of The Great School Wars, a history of the New York City public schools
• JOE WILLIAMS
  Executive Director of Democrats for Education Reform
  Author of Cheating our Kids

Background:
The New York City school system has undergone a dramatic restructuring in the past few years. A key change has been direct mayoral control of the Department of Education. Supporters suggest that mayoral control is a necessary component in the improvement and reform of the New York City schools, while critics contend that there is a greater need for parental involvement and less centralized control. The legislation authorizing mayoral control expires this year and the State Legislature is considering its reenactment amid a nationwide debate regarding effective strategies for closing the achievement gap in urban schools. This forum will examine the issues and controversies concerning New York City's experience with mayoral control.

NYS Mayoral Control Hearings (Manhattan) 2/6/09: S.E.E.D.S. Testimony

Submitted by A-kM

The attached testimony was placed into the record (along with my transcripted extemporaneous presentation). As in the Queens hearings, Bloomberg's mayoral control "support" and/or "tweak" forces were out in large numbers and Klein, Wolcott & Co. spoke and responded for the first 2.5 hours. A significant part of Bloombergs forces are Black Charter School Parents & students. This was just like during the term limit hearings. At most, they represent about 5% of the Black & Latina/o public school student population. Campaign for Better Schools, Geoff Canada and Hazel Dukes, had "Democracy Academy" youth in tow, as they gave long and strong support to "keeping" or to "tweaking". However, one especially critical thinking Democ. Acad. student countered his schoolmates with convincing testimony in opposition to mayoral control. Yesterday the supporters of MC were about 95% of the vocal, organized presence. Many in opposition were later arriving and never got in. Those of us in opposition to MC must have a much larger / stronger showing in the hearings in the Bronx (3/13, Lehman College) and Brooklyn (3/20, NYC Tech); and beyond. Therefore our day-to-day ORGANIZING must improve.

There are huge numbers of our students and Black and Latina/o parents whose interests and voices must be placed "on centerstage". We have work to do with parents, students and legislators.

We have two "seminars" on opposition to mayoral control in Albany in 1 week, Saturday, 2/14. We need both "newer" and veteran activist parents and students joining us on that lobbying effort. More importantly, as we build / expand our two coalitions in opposition to Mayoral Control to 100 groups, we must also engage and recruit prospective parents, students, and community folk to join us in getting organized.

Download Testimony Here!