What's happening
This bill prohibits the commissioner from granting waivers or certificates to unqualified individuals nominated as New York City school district superintendent or chancellor.
Why it matters
Ensures stricter professional standards. for those appointed as New York City school district superintendent or chancellor by removing the possibility of exceptions or waivers for unqualified candidates.
Limits political or non-traditional appointments. , meaning that only those who have met all existing educational and certification requirements can be considered, potentially closing the door to high-profile leaders from outside traditional education backgrounds.
Aims to increase credibility and trust. in the leadership of the New York City school system by guaranteeing that top officials are fully vetted and qualified based on established criteria, rather than personal connections or political influence.
Could impact succession planning and recruitment. , possibly narrowing the pool of eligible candidates in situations where the city seeks innovative or unconventional leadership, thereby prioritizing formal qualifications over diverse experience.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Waivers for NYC Chancellor
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- 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.
Ban Waivers for School Chancellor
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Walter T. Mosley
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5474
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 30, 2017
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to New York city school district superintendent waivers by the commissioner of education
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3003 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall not issue a waiver from the requirements of subdivision one of this section to any person nominated to exercise the powers described in section twenty-five hundred ninety-h of this chapter and who is known as the superintendent or chancellor of the New York city school district, nor shall the commissioner grant a school district leader certificate to an individual who fails to meet the requirements of such subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07250-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to New York city school district superintendent waivers by the commissioner of education
Purpose
To ensure that the education commissioner cannot issue a waiver allowing an unqualified individual to be appointed to the position of chancellor of the New York City school district.
Summary of provisions
This bill amends section 3003 of the education law by adding a new subdivision 6. The new subdivision 6 would bar the education commissioner from issuing a waiver from the qualifications required for a person to serve as the superintendent or chancellor of the NYC school district.
Existing law
Under current law, a superintendent of a school district must have completed sixty semester hours in graduate courses approved by the commissioner, and must have completed three years of teaching experience satisfactory to the commissioner in public or non-public schools. Furthermore, the candidate for superintendent must have successfully (1) completed a New York State program (or its equivalent if out of state) leading to a professional certificate as a school district leader in the educational leadership service, or (2) performed on the New York State assessment for school district leadership.
When a candidate lacks those educational or experiential requirements, the commissioner of education may nonetheless issue a superintendent's certificate for that candidate. The commissioner is empowered to grant an exception (waiver) to the education or experience requirements if he finds that the candidate has "exceptional training and experience" which are the "substantial equivalent of such requirements."
Although the commissioner's regulations clearly state that the request for the professional certificate must come from the board, there is a strong argument that the mayoral control statute presumes that the authority to request a waiver would rest with the Mayor.
Justification
This legislation will ensure that only qualified professionals in the education field are appointed to the position of Chancellor/Superintendent of the New York City school district, the largest public school district in the State of New York. Under current law, these qualifications can be waived, resulting in disastrous consequences for school children when major education-related decisions are made by unqualified individuals. By prohibiting waivers and thus removing mayoral control over the selection of the chancellor, we can ensure that the leader of NYC schools is truly qualified to work in the education system.
Legislative history
2011-2012: S.7398 - Died in Committee, 2013-2014: S.1408 Referred to Education
Fiscal implications
None. EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.