Citizens Union Calls for the Governor and State Legislature to Enact a Clean, No Strings Attached Bill Continuing Mayoral Control of New York City Public Schools.

Stop Playing with the Education of NYC Public School Students as if it Was a Political Football.

Citizens Union affirms its strong support for continued mayoral control of New York City public schools. Each house of the state legislature should drop their own particular shopping list of pet issues that have been tacked on to a public policy that is successful and should be allowed to stand on its own without being burdened with other unrelated issues.

The state legislature’s planned and continued role in reauthorizing mayoral control of New York City schools undercuts the city’s desire for, and Citizens Union’s interest in, greater home rule. Though education policy is set primarily at the state level by the Board of Regents and state funding is provided by the governor and legislature, it gives us concern that legislators from across the state have a significant role in determining the specific governance structure and administration of New York City’s public school system. This runs counter to the principle that self-governance is a central tenet of our democracy.

Greater local control and stronger home rule are needed here, not a tight leash on a public policy that has worked well under two different mayors from two different political backgrounds and for which there is no sound justification for obstructing the continuance of a successful policy.

We are further concerned that the renewal of mayoral control has become a political football that has been tied to other issues such as lifting the cap on charter schools, adjusting local tax measures, and allowed for unnecessary political jockeying at the expense of New York City’s students.

Though our policy position makes several recommendations for permanent mayoral control and improving the system with changes to the governance apparatus and parental involvement, now is not the time to discuss them given that the legislature is only talking about another temporary extension where the city will have to again seek permission from the state to take on the charge of educating its own students. When the time comes for a much longer extension or permanent control, it is then when we will seek these necessary improvements.

New Yorkers of all ages need to be able to count on a system that has only the best interests in mind when implementing systems to educate our young people. Mayoral control has been a highly effective policy and should be extended with no strings attached.