1. Community Education Council for district 1 (cec1) May 24, 2017
Mayoral Control in NYC
Community Education Council for district 1 (cec1)
May 24, 2017

2. Before 2002: Decentralized Power
The Past
Before 2002: Decentralized Power
Elected School Boards
Board of Education
Chancellor
School Boards: power over hiring and firing, and budgets

3. Mayoral Control: Centralized Power
The Present
Mayoral Control: Centralized Power
Trend in urban centers where schools serve high percentages of low-income students of color
MC structure varies from city to city
NYC: Mayor appoints the Chancellor
Mayor appoints 8 members (out of 13) of the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP)

4. Panel for Educational Policy
PEP votes on policies including significant school change proposals like closures and consolidations, and on school system contracts
Power to determine citywide policy and budget are centralized, with no meaningful checks and balances:
Mayor has the power, and Bloomberg used it, to fire PEP members who are likely to oppose his/her policies
Several PEP members under de Blasio have resigned or not re-appeared on the PEP after publically expressing frustration with charter co-locations, contracts, etc.

5. Community Education Councils
Under MC, CECs replaced Community School Boards
But with only advisory powers (beyond those related to rezoning)
No meaningful parent power granted—sharp contrast with organization of suburban schooling
Collaboration with parents and transparency in decision-making promised by current administration; commitment to equity

6. Parent Disempowerment
Urban Justice Center study (2012) & Comptroller Report (2009):
System-wide parent and teacher disempowerment under MC
Influence of participation structures (PTAs, SLTs, CECs) minimal

7. School Governance of NYC Public Schools: Mayoral Control D1 Presidents’ Council Resolution 2016