File #: Res 1519-2017    Version: * Name: Amend the State Education Law, to extend provisions related to mayoral control for two years.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on State and Federal Legislation
On agenda: 6/6/2017
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to amend the State Education Law, to extend provisions related to mayoral control for two years.
Sponsors: Daniel Dromm
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Attachments: 1. June 6, 2017 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 2. Committee Report, 3. Hearing Transcript, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 6-6-17, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - June 6, 2017

Preconsidered Res. No. 1519

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to amend the State Education Law, to extend provisions related to mayoral control for two years.

 

By Council Member Dromm

 

Whereas, In 2002, the New York State Legislature amended the State Education Law to establish mayoral control over the New York City school district; and

Whereas, The establishment of this new governance model was designed to improve the education system by establishing a clearer line of accountability; and 

Whereas, Mayoral control ushered in a period during which the outcomes for students in New York City schools have improved significantly; and

Whereas, Under mayoral control, graduation rates, college readiness rates and test scores have increased measurably; and

Whereas, Under mayoral control, the City of New York has seen graduation rates rise steadily, reaching a current historic high, with 72.6 percent of the City’s high school students graduating in four years; and

Whereas, Under mayoral control, the City of New York has seen its dropout rate decrease to the lowest level it has ever been; and

Whereas, Under mayoral control, New York City schools now provide families with information on students’ academic success, and foster partnership with the community and parents in the shaping of our schools; and

Whereas, Under mayoral control, the City of New York has implemented free, full-day, high-quality universal pre-Kindergarten for every four-year-old, coordinating the efforts of multiple agencies to launch and administer the program; and

 

Whereas, Mayoral control has brought a degree of financial stability to our schools and increased transparency to the school budgeting process; and

Whereas, Mayoral control not only provides parents and the public with a clear answer as to whom to hold responsible for the academic performance of the City’s children, it also continues to foster participation of parents and the community in the governance of schools; and

Whereas, Mayoral control provides the stability necessary to build upon the improvements made thus far, and it will keep in place the system needed to deliver on recently implemented initiatives; and

Whereas, The State Legislature retains legislative authority over certain aspects of the New York City public school system; and

Whereas, Education is one of the most important local government functions, as the New York City school district serves more than 1.1 million students, has over 1700 schools and has an education budget exceeding $28 billion, which makes the Department of Education the largest entity funded in the City budget; and

Whereas, The importance of the New York City school district thus warrants clear accountability to an individual; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to amend the State Education Law, to extend provisions related to mayoral control for two years.

 

JA/SMD

6/5/17