During the 2002 and 2003 Legislative sessions, the Legislature approved the most comprehensive governance changes to the New York City School District in over three decades. The mayor was provided control of the management of the City's schools through the ability to appoint the Chancellor of the City District and a majority of the members of the City Board of Education. This authority translates into power affecting city-wide educational policies including educational standards, curriculum requirements and mandatory educational objectives; the development of a master facilities plan and five-year educational facilities capital plan; administrative functions including accounting controls and internal audits; public employer responsibilities such as setting qualifications and performance standards for teachers and supervisory personnel; the development of a procurement policy for the public schools; and management over the budgetary process and school-based budgeting.

As the law is set to sunset on June 30th of this year, the Assembly Committee on Education is interested in hearing about the impact of mayoral control on the City's school system and how modifications to the law could address concerns and improve the current governance structure. For example, questions have been raised regarding the development and execution of a five-year capital plan that still leaves many schools overcrowded and New York City with some of the largest class sizes in the state. There has also been persistent concern about the lack of access to information by parents and the community. Mayoral control has also had an impact on many other areas over which it has authority, such as student achievement. Therefore, the Committee anticipates hearing testimony regarding the effect the change in governance has had on this area, including the delivery of educational services to English language learners and students with disabilities, as well as on the other areas that have been affected by mayoral control of the New York City schools.

In order to ensure that all interested parties are given the opportunity to present testimony, the Committee requests that each individual or entity testify at only one hearing and limit the duration of oral testimony to 5 minutes. Please also note if a witness wishes to provide written testimony only, it can be incorporated into the official record if it is received prior to 5:00 pm the day before the hearing.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at a hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk of the hearing at which testimony will be offered. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on Governance of the New York City School District are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to:

In order to ensure that all interested parties are given the opportunity to present testimony, the Committee requests that each individual or entity testify at only one hearing and limit the duration of oral testimony to 5 minutes. Please also note if a witness wishes to provide written testimony only, it can be incorporated into the official record if it is received prior to 5:00 pm the day before the hearing.

I plan to make a public statement at the following public hearing on Governance of the New York City School District to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Education:

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