CCC testimony: On State Legislative Proposals Related to School Governance Reform in New York City

Published October, 2013

CCC testified at a Joint Legislative Forum on School Governance Reform on October 8, 2013 on proposed legislation S.1406/ A.792.  which would amend the membership of the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) and effectively reverse mayoral control of New York City schools. This fourm was sponsored by Senators Montgomery and Perkins and Assemblyman Weprin. CCC testified in support of mayoral control, thus opposing the provision of S.1406/A.792 that would give the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) the authority to appoint the Chancellor of the city school district. CCC supported the proposals in S.1406/A.792 designed to diversify the membership of the PEP such that the Mayor did not appoint the majority of PEP members.

In the testimony, CCC urged State legislators to take action to require more transparency related to the Department of Education’s budget and policy decisions, and that any efforts at school governance reform include mechanisms through which parents and community members can have meaningful input.