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- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Reforms the system of school governance in the city school district of the city of New York; appropriation; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Daniel O'Donnell
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the reform of the system of school governance in the city school district of the city of New York; to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto; making an appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill, which grows out of the work of the Parent Commission on School Governance and Mayoral Control, would fundamentally change and improve the New York City school governance structure by creating an "Education Through Partnership Act" to ensure that parents are full partners with educators, administrators and elected officials in the education of the city's children. This bill strengthens parent representation in decision-making at the school, district, and city-wide levels, provides enhanced mechanisms for accountability and transparency, and makes education policy-making and contracting subject to city law. This bill will also lead to establishment of a broad-based citizen's commission to forge a consensus on the mission, goals and principles of the city's education system.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill sets forth the legislative findings regarding the need for changes in school governance to provide, among other things, increased transparency, accountability, and representation of parent, teacher, and student views in the decision-making process. The legislative findings also include a statement of the need to establish a commission on public education to articulate the goals of public education in the City of New York and how to achieve those goals.
Read the full memo (1,299 words)
Section 2 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-b and adds a substantially revised new section 2590-b. Section 3 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-c and adds a substantially revised new section 2590-c. Section 4 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-e and adds a revised new section 2590-e. Section 5 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-f and adds a revised new section 2590-f. Section 6 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-g and adds a revised new section 2590-g. Section 7 of the bill repeals the opening paragraph, subdivision 1 (a), and subdivisions 15 and 30 of Education Law §2590-h and adds revised new paragraphs and subdivisions with the same numbering and lettering to replace them. Section 8 of the bill adds a new subdivision 39 to Education Law §2590-h. Section 9 of the bill repeals subdivision 3 of Education Law §2590-i, and adds a revised new subdivision 3 to that section. Section 10 of the bill repeals Education Law §2590-r and adds a revised new section 259-r.
Section 11 of the bill adds a new Education Law §2590-t, establishing the city-wide independent parent organization and parent academy. Section 12 of the bill adds a new Education Law §2590-u, relating to comprehensive education plans and district comprehensive education plans, and the role of school leadership teams, district management teams and other consultative bodies representing parent associations and other educations groups with respect to such plans. Section 13 of the bill adds a new Education Law .2590-v, establishing an independent accountability office, an office of the inspector general, and an independent office of the ombudsperson. Subdivision 4 of the new section provides that the city district's finances shall be under the jurisdiction of the city comptroller.
Section 14 of the bill adds a new Education Law §2590-w, establishing a Commission on Public Education. The Commission's purpose is to develop a broad-based community consensus on the mission, goals and policy framework for public education in the City of New York, and to draft a constitution based on that consensus to be codified by the city and the state and to serve as the foundation for an annual comprehensive plan and budget process.
Section 15 of the bill appropriates $80,000 to the Commission on Public Education. Section 16 is the bill's effective date.
Justification
The school governance system for New York City that was established by Chapter 91 of the Laws of 2002 will expire in 2009, and it has been the subject of great debate. The Parent Commission on School Governance and Mayoral Control convened in June 2008 to assess the experience of parents and other stakeholders in the city educational system and to make recommendations for changes in the current school governance system. This bill arises from the Parent Commission's work.
Mayoral control of the city school system, as enacted in 2002, was based in large part on a promise of greater accountability. However, the experience of parents and others who share their concerns is that the current system lacks transparency for both educational and financial data; has weakened and eliminated systems for input from educational stakeholders; and has no means for holding its leaders accountable for their decisions and policies. Real accountability can be achieved only through full access to information so that there can be a full assessment of educational policies and their results, a governance system characterized by a Board of Education with a significant number of parent representatives as well as those appointed by the mayor and other elected officials, and new oversight offices that are properly staffed and funded so that they can verify financial and academic outcomes, investigate corruption and respond to parental complaints. In addition, the Chancellor should be an experienced educator appointed by the mayor from candidates nominated by the Board.
Community School Districts, eliminated under mayoral control, should be restored to an appropriate place in the city educational system. Their elimination did not eliminate no-bid or other problematic contracting procedures, and they can and should function as basic units of local school governance along with Community District Education Councils. Those local governance units will nurture parental and community involvement; make decisions on educational priorities, zoning and enrollment; oversee schools; and facilitate improvement of teaching and learning.
Under mayoral control, parents have had little real voice in their children's education; this legislation will ensure more vigorous parent input at the school and city-wide levels in three ways. First, creating an independent and appropriately funded city-wide parent organization will help ensure that NYC parents have the support and skills necessary to be equal partners in decision-making and will restore a strong parental voice to the city educational system. Second, the role of School Leadership Teams will be clarified and strengthened so that they participate appropriately in developing annual school Comprehensive Education Plans, approving school based budget and staffing plans, and performing annual space assessments. Third, the process for selection of school principals will be reformed so that there is parent input.
The NYC public school system is the largest provider of special education and related services in the nations, serving nearly 181,000 children, or approximately 15% of the city's school age population. Repeated reorganizations and fragmentation of service under mayoral control and the lack of sufficient representation of parents on city-wide decision-making bodies have not served these children well. This legislation would expand the role of the Citywide Council on Special Education and would also provide meaningful representation for parents of special needs students.
In addition to specific provisions that establish accountability and checks and balances, and that increase parental input, it is also important to develop and articulate a set of goals and guiding principles for the NYC educational system. This legislation seeks to further the process of doing so through a Commission on Public Education.
Prior legislative history
None. New bill.
Fiscal implications
The bill includes an appropriation of $80,000.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on June 30, 2015. On such date, the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed, and certain provisions repealed by this act shall be revived and read as they existed on the date immediately preceding the effective date of this act.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.