New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Mayoral Control
March 20, 2009
Brooklyn, New York
TESTIMONY BY GLYNDA C. CARR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF EDUCATION VOTERS OF NEW YORK
Mayoral Control Testimony
March 20, 2009
Good morning, my name is Glynda Carr and I am the Executive Director of Education Voters of New York. I would like to thank Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, Chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee, and other members of the Assembly for this opportunity to testify today regarding school governance.
We are all here today because we care passionately about ensuring that every New York child has the opportunity to learn and thrive in our public schools. Few of us fail to recognize that progress has been made in improving the public schools of New York over the last 6 years, since Mayoral control was initiated. But the time is now and the outcome is clear: we need to put the public back in our public schools.
Some may argue that increasing public participation, checks and balances and transparency is taking control away from the Mayor. However, I am suggesting that we have an opportunity to improve the city’s school governance structure. The State Legislature can create progressive language in the reauthorization law that clearly defines the Mayor’s responsibility and role in the management of public schools. The reforms must include:
1. Greater public participation for parents, youth and communities in decisions affecting schools;
2. A system of checks and balances because no one person should have autonomy over all crucial education policy decisions; and
3. Greater transparency over school performance and finances, so that we can know what’s really going on in our schools.
Recent events in the corporate world have shown us that we should not run our most valuable public asset – the public schools — like a Fortune 500 company. Even top executives on Wall Street have a board of directors or stakeholders to whom they report. Why then should we leave it in the hands of two people to make every critical decision on policies that directly impact student achievement? We must pause and ask the question – who will bail out our children if we jeopardize their future with failed public policies?
Education is the most important social and economic determinant in the life of an individual. Regardless of where or to whom a child is born, all American public schools should serve as the corridors of opportunity. They must engage and connect that child with the educational resources needed to access and contribute to our country’s vast social, economic, and civic opportunities. To achieve this, every child should have access to:
Ø Early childhood education that gives the youngest learners-especially those who are most vulnerable-a strong start from birth with high-quality care and affordable pre-K;
Ø Highly effective teachers who focus on the developmental and instructional needs of the individual child;
Ø College preparatory curriculum that engages and challenges every child with high expectations and prepares them to meet high national standards;
Ø Affordable higher education by preparing all students for success in college, controlling tuition costs and increasing financial aid for low and moderate income students;and
Ø A system of accountability for holding all parties responsible for results – including government officials, school leaders, and parents- to reach levels of student proficiency that restore the U.S. as a world leader in education, relative to international assessments.
Please allow me to address each of the three critical reforms that Education Voters of New York is proposing:
1. Greater public participation
Evidence clearly indicates that when a student has an involved adult in their school life they are more likely to perform well. Yet, time and time again we hear that parents, students and community stakeholders feel that their voices are not being heard. Over the past four years New Yorkers, parents in particular, have felt powerless and voiceless. We need reform that gives support to, and encourages, parental and community involvement.
Education Voters’ mission is to do just that – to build public demand for excellent schools. At our core, we believe in public participation in government. We believe that a collaborative decision-making process at all levels will lead to better educational policies and improved academic outcomes for more students.
In addition to providing opportunities for public input, the reform should require principals to hold public meetings to report on school finances and student performance, and to discuss plans for meeting the benchmarks and budget targets of the Comprehensive Educational Plans.
District superintendents should have primary responsibility for the supervision of principals and administrative oversight of schools in their district. In addition, they should:
Hear and resolve grievances regarding school choice; discipline; language access for parents and ELL students; special needs; and school level participation.
Hold public meetings to report on district performance and discuss plans for improvement of district schools.
And, when it comes to failing schools, we are calling for a system that supports a clear, transparent process to school closings that includes public notification, opportunities for public comment and a plan to assist parents with school choice options.
2. Checks and balances
Any reform must include a system of checks and balances. We support restructuring the Panel of Education Policy (PEP) as an independent board. Strengthening the powers of the PEP will ensure that the decisions being made put the best interest of every child first, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. .
We support the proposal for the PEP to have a narrow majority of members appointed by the City Council or other elected officials, and a minority of members appointed by the mayor. The PEP should have approval power over the annual DOE operating budget and five-year capital plan. Also, any major education policy changes should require PEP review and approval.
3. Transparency
As we look at the past 6 years of Mayoral control of our public schools, one area that clearly needs to be addressed is the question of transparency. The citizens of New York City have the right, and indeed the obligation, to review school performance and school finances, so that we can know what is really going on in our schools.
It is clear that public schools are the engines of our economic prosperity. The development of the next generation of business and civic leaders is critical to the future of a thriving economy. It is equally clear that that future depends on our investment in revitalizing the way we educate our children. We have a real opportunity to make a giant step toward public school reform. The time is now and the outcome is clear: let’s put the public back in our public schools! Education Voters looks forward to working closely with you to support the reforms that will improve academic achievement.
Thank you.
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Testimony of
Glynda C. Carr
Executive Director
Education Voters of New York
before
New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Education
Mayoral Control
March 20, 2009
Brooklyn, New York
TESTIMONY BY GLYNDA C. CARR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF EDUCATION VOTERS OF NEW YORK
Mayoral Control Testimony
March 20, 2009
Good morning, my name is Glynda Carr and I am the Executive Director of Education Voters of New York. I would like to thank Assembly Member Cathy Nolan, Chair of the Assembly’s Education Committee, and other members of the Assembly for this opportunity to testify today regarding school governance.
We are all here today because we care passionately about ensuring that every New York child has the opportunity to learn and thrive in our public schools. Few of us fail to recognize that progress has been made in improving the public schools of New York over the last 6 years, since Mayoral control was initiated. But the time is now and the outcome is clear: we need to put the public back in our public schools.
Some may argue that increasing public participation, checks and balances and transparency is taking control away from the Mayor. However, I am suggesting that we have an opportunity to improve the city’s school governance structure. The State Legislature can create progressive language in the reauthorization law that clearly defines the Mayor’s responsibility and role in the management of public schools. The reforms must include:
1. Greater public participation for parents, youth and communities in decisions affecting schools;
2. A system of checks and balances because no one person should have autonomy over all crucial education policy decisions; and
3. Greater transparency over school performance and finances, so that we can know what’s really going on in our schools.
Recent events in the corporate world have shown us that we should not run our most valuable public asset – the public schools — like a Fortune 500 company. Even top executives on Wall Street have a board of directors or stakeholders to whom they report. Why then should we leave it in the hands of two people to make every critical decision on policies that directly impact student achievement? We must pause and ask the question – who will bail out our children if we jeopardize their future with failed public policies?
Education is the most important social and economic determinant in the life of an individual. Regardless of where or to whom a child is born, all American public schools should serve as the corridors of opportunity. They must engage and connect that child with the educational resources needed to access and contribute to our country’s vast social, economic, and civic opportunities. To achieve this, every child should have access to:
Ø Early childhood education that gives the youngest learners-especially those who are most vulnerable-a strong start from birth with high-quality care and affordable pre-K;
Ø Highly effective teachers who focus on the developmental and instructional needs of the individual child;
Ø College preparatory curriculum that engages and challenges every child with high expectations and prepares them to meet high national standards;
Ø Affordable higher education by preparing all students for success in college, controlling tuition costs and increasing financial aid for low and moderate income students; and
Ø A system of accountability for holding all parties responsible for results – including government officials, school leaders, and parents- to reach levels of student proficiency that restore the U.S. as a world leader in education, relative to international assessments.
Please allow me to address each of the three critical reforms that Education Voters of New York is proposing:
1. Greater public participation
Evidence clearly indicates that when a student has an involved adult in their school life they are more likely to perform well. Yet, time and time again we hear that parents, students and community stakeholders feel that their voices are not being heard. Over the past four years New Yorkers, parents in particular, have felt powerless and voiceless. We need reform that gives support to, and encourages, parental and community involvement.
Education Voters’ mission is to do just that – to build public demand for excellent schools. At our core, we believe in public participation in government. We believe that a collaborative decision-making process at all levels will lead to better educational policies and improved academic outcomes for more students.
In addition to providing opportunities for public input, the reform should require principals to hold public meetings to report on school finances and student performance, and to discuss plans for meeting the benchmarks and budget targets of the Comprehensive Educational Plans.
District superintendents should have primary responsibility for the supervision of principals and administrative oversight of schools in their district. In addition, they should:
And, when it comes to failing schools, we are calling for a system that supports a clear, transparent process to school closings that includes public notification, opportunities for public comment and a plan to assist parents with school choice options.
2. Checks and balances
Any reform must include a system of checks and balances. We support restructuring the Panel of Education Policy (PEP) as an independent board. Strengthening the powers of the PEP will ensure that the decisions being made put the best interest of every child first, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. .
We support the proposal for the PEP to have a narrow majority of members appointed by the City Council or other elected officials, and a minority of members appointed by the mayor. The PEP should have approval power over the annual DOE operating budget and five-year capital plan. Also, any major education policy changes should require PEP review and approval.
3. Transparency
As we look at the past 6 years of Mayoral control of our public schools, one area that clearly needs to be addressed is the question of transparency. The citizens of New York City have the right, and indeed the obligation, to review school performance and school finances, so that we can know what is really going on in our schools.
It is clear that public schools are the engines of our economic prosperity. The development of the next generation of business and civic leaders is critical to the future of a thriving economy. It is equally clear that that future depends on our investment in revitalizing the way we educate our children. We have a real opportunity to make a giant step toward public school reform. The time is now and the outcome is clear: let’s put the public back in our public schools! Education Voters looks forward to working closely with you to support the reforms that will improve academic achievement.
Thank you.