In an expected, but nevertheless a blow to the de Blasio Administration, state lawmakers on Friday ended their 2016 legislative session with approving a one-year extension of mayoral control of the City’s schools.
De Blasio had tried to get a seven-year extension, while both the Assembly and the Governor wanted three years, but in the end the Republican controlled Senate held sway – and gave de Blasio the one-year extension with two provisions that further curtailed his control.
The first provision requires the City to publish Community School Districts spending information within their proposed budget and on their website. By making this information available to the public, voters, parents and taxpayers in communities across New York City will have a greater understanding of their school district’s budget.
The second provision allows high-performing charter schools in good standing to switch to a different oversight and regulatory entity such as the Board of Trustees of State University of New York or the Board of Regents of the State Educational Department during the 2016-17 school year.
“We believe that a one-year extension of mayoral control with reforms that require school-by school budget data to promote greater fiscal transparency is in the best interest of students and their parents. This debate has always been about ensuring that school children in New York City receive a first-class education that prepares them for the rest of their lives, and this agreement moves us closer to that goal,” said Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan.”
De Blasio, although disappointed, took the high road on the extension.
“Preserving mayoral control of schools will ensure progress continues for 1.1 million students. While one-year extensions are no way to treat our children, families or educators, this action is a crucial acknowledgment by State lawmakers that the education progress we have made in New York City could not have happened without our accountable control of the school system,” said de Blasio.
The Northeast Charter Schools Network, a membership and advocacy organization for the more than 250 charter schools in New York and Connecticut, lauded the state decision for both more charter school funding and increased oversight flexibility.
“From the victories in the state budget, to the end-of-session policy change, charter schools across the state are winners this year. Charter schools statewide received a desperately needed funding increase because leaders agreed that they should invest in schools that are working in every region,” said Northeast Charter Schools Network NY State Director Andrea Rogers said. “Flexibility is in the DNA of charter schools. The end-of-session legislation that allows the transfer of authorizer oversight is an example of this being worked into state policy.”
Another pro-charter advocacy organization, StudentsFirstNY, took a more nuanced view.
“A longer renewal would be better for everyone, and we’re hopeful that Mayor de Blasio will show new urgency this year to improve schools so he can restore the legislature’s confidence in his management,” said StudentsFirstNY Executive Director Jenny Sedlis.
On the other side, Billy Easton, executive director for the Alliance for Quality Education, which is aligned with the teachers union, said the decision was based purely on politics, stemming from de Blasio’s failed fundraising attempts to have the Democrats take majority control of the Senate.
“What we find disturbing is the annual ritual of renewal of mayoral l control comes at a price of other issues. There is loosened oversight (on charter schools) at a time when there’s been a lot of disturbing revelations there should be stronger oversight. We see all the scandals at Success Academy Charter Schools with school suspensions and abusive teachers and nothing happens. Now they allow charter schools to pick their own regulator. Who wouldn’t want to pick their own regulator,” said Easton.
Success Academy Founder and Executive Director Eva Moskowitz refused comment on both the state’s action on mayoral control and Easton’s comments.
