Res. No. 815
Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass S.3704/A.4462, legislation which would limit the State Commissioner of Education's ability to grant a waiver for nominees to the position of Chancellor of the New York City school district.
By Council Members Jackson, Dromm, Cabrera, Gentile, Mendez, Rose and Williams
Whereas, The Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education serves as the superintendent of the largest public school system in the United States, with over 1,700 schools that serve approximately 1.1 million students each year; and
Whereas, Under current state law, to be eligible for a superintendent's certificate, candidates must meet certain requirements; and
Whereas, The requirements specify that candidates must be a graduate of a college or university approved by the New York State Commissioner of Education and, in addition, shall have completed sixty semester hours in graduate courses approved by such Commissioner of Education; and
Whereas, It is further required that, at the time of appointment, a superintendent shall have completed three years of teaching experience satisfactory to the Commissioner in public or non-public schools; and
Whereas, Current state law also allows the Commissioner, at the request of a Board of Education or Board of Cooperative Educational Services, to provide for the issuance of a certificate as superintendent of schools to "exceptionally qualified" persons who do not meet all of the aforementioned graduate course or teaching requirements, but whose exceptional training and experience are the "substantial equivalent" of such requirements and qualify such persons for the duties of a superintendent of schools; and
Whereas, Legislation S.3704/A.4462 would limit the State Commissioner of Education's ability to issue a superintendent certificate to persons seeking "exceptionally qualified" status in cities of one million or more inhabitants; and
Whereas, For such large cities, the legislation would allow the waiver of a graduate course or teaching requirements for a superintendent certificate only upon concurrent resolution by the Senate and Assembly; and
Whereas, Given the size and complexity of school systems in cities with populations over one million, including most notably the City of New York, which has the largest school system in the nation, it is imperative that decisions on the issuance of a certificate "seeking exceptionally qualified person status" be subject to a thorough review process to ensure that the person selected is the most appropriate person for the position; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass S.3704/A.4462, legislation which would limit the State Commissioner of Education's ability to grant a waiver for nominees to the position of Chancellor of the New York City school district.
LS# 1816
JA
4/14/11
4:00