CandidateSurveyforMayoralCandidates PleasereturnbyMonday,July8thtoinfo@nyckidspac.

org June 2013

Candidatesfullname Staffcontactandemail Phonenumber Governance

JohnLiu ShammeikBarat,shammeik@johnliu2013.com 6464909818

ManyNewYorkCityparentsfeeldisenfranchisedbythecurrentsystemofmayoralcontroloverpublic educationandfeeltherearefewchecksandbalances.Only22%ofNewYorkersbelievethatmayoral controlshouldcontinueinitspresentformafterthestatelegislaturerevisitstheissuein2015. Yes Wouldyousupportchangestothesystemthatwouldgiveparentsasignificantvoicein X decisionmakingand/orprovidechecksandbalancestothecurrentsystem? WhichofthefollowingchangestowhatisnowcalledthePanelforEducationPolicy (thedefactoBoardofEducation)wouldyousupport?Pleasecheckasmanyasyou like. AdirectlyelectedBoardofEducation AreconstitutedBoardofEducationwithamajoritynotappointedbytheMayor CommunityEducationCouncils(CECs)selectingparentrepresentativestothe BoardofEducation
X

No

Yes
X

No

HavingBoardofEducationmemberswithsetterms,whocannotbefiredatwill X bythemayor ThecreationofanindependentcommitteetonominatepotentialBoardof Educationmembers,fromwhichthemayorwillselecttheactualmembers

X

Whichofthefollowingmeasurestoensurethatparentsandcommunitymembershave Yes asayintheirchildrensschoolswouldyousupport?Pleasecheckasmanyasyoulike. ExpandingthepowersofCECs,includinggivingthemapprovalauthorityover schoolclosingsandcolocations? Authorizingmunicipalcontroli.e.,theCityCouncilmakinglawoneducational policy,includingschoolclosings,etc.? AllowingSchoolLeadershipTeams(SLTs)toregainthepowertodevelopschool X basedbudgets?

X

No

ReconstitutingschoolbasedcommitteesorSLTstoselectprincipals?

Restoringthedistrictstructure,withasuperintendentwhosupervisesprincipals X andprovidesaccessforparentswithissuesandproblems?

Doyouhaveotherproposalstoprovideastrongerparentvoiceand/orchecksandbalancesinschool governance?
Myreport,NoMoreRubberStamp,detailsreformsthatIwouldenacttothePanelforEducationPolicy. AmongthemisadifferentapproachtoPEP.ThecriticaldifferenceisthatthemayorsappointeestoPEP mustbeselectedfromcandidateschosenbyanominatingcommittee.Thatcommitteewillbemadeupof representativesfromthecommunity,labor,electedofficials,educationprofessionalsandmayoral appointees.Representativesofthecommunitywillhavethemostseatsonthatboard,ensuringastrong checkonschoolgovernance. Otherproposalsinthatparticularreporttheeffectchecksandbalancesarefixedfouryeartermsfor membersofPEPandrequiredapprovaloftheChancellorfromPEPwithvetopower.

Whatisyourviewofhowparentsshouldbeinvolvedineducationaldecisionmaking?Pleasebeas specificaspossible.
ParentsmustbemuchmoreinvolvedindecisionmakingthanwehaveseenduringtheBloomberg administration.Myreport,mentionedabove,detailshowwecangetparentsinsertedintothepower structureanddecisionmakingaspectsofschoolgovernance.

Chancellor WehavehadaseriesofChancellorswhohaverequiredawaiverfromtheNYSEducationDepartment. TheMayorhasdefendedhisappointmentsbasedonhisbeliefthatthepubliceducationsystemneededa businessmanager. AstotheroleofChancellor,wouldyousupport: TheChancellorbeingchosenbyBoardofEducationratherthanthemayor? Selectingonlyachancellorwhodoesnotrequireawaiverfromthestate(i.e.,an X educator) Yes No

X

InwhatwayswouldyouchangetheChancellorsrole,ifany?
Iwillagainpointyoutomyreport,NoMoreRubberStamp,thatdetailssomeoftherequirementsIwould haveofthenextChancellor.Amongtherequirements:
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Atleasttenyearsofsuccessfulexperienceasapublicorprivateschooleducator Aprovenrecordofsuccessinimprovingoutcomesforallstudents Aprovencommitmentandabilitytoclearlyandaccuratelyengagewiththepublicandmotivatestaff

Astrongcommitmenttocapacitybuilding,peernetworkcollaboration,andtransparencyinprocess

anddata PhDorEdDineducationalleadership

DoyouhaveanyotherproposalsforchangesintheChancellorsrole?
TheNewYorkStateEducationCommissionershouldnotbeabletoprovidewaiversforprospective chancellors.Businessmanagersandsystemsorientedspecialistscanandshouldserveprominentlyinthe governancestructure,butsuchindividualswouldnotbeeligibletoserveaschancellorunlesstheymeetthe establishedcriteria.Asmentionedpreviously,thenewPEPwouldhavetheauthoritytoapproveorvetothe mayorsselectionforchancellor.

Pleasedescribesomesuccessesyoubelievemayoralcontrolofeducationhasbrought.Pleasedescribe someproblemsyouseeaswell.
MayoralcontrolhasallowedtheMayortoabsorballofthepower,buthasleftaccountabilitytotheschools. Thishasmeantthatwhileschoolshavemoreautonomytheyarealsoallowedtofail.Unfortunately,this hasmeant140schoolclosingssince2003.Weneedamorecollaborativeandresponsivesystemofschool governance.

Testing Anotherissuethatparentsfeelpassionatelyaboutistheneedtoreducestandardizedtesting,testprep,and theirbeingusedtoevaluateschools,students,andteachers.Whatisyourpositiononthismatter? Wouldyousupport: Eliminatingtheuseoftestscoresastheprimarybasisformakingpromotional decisions? Eliminatingorminimizingtestbeingusedastheprimarycriteriaonwhichschool gradesorprogressreportsarebased(currently,schoolgradesarederivedabout X 85%fromtestscores)? Eliminatingschoolprogressreportsaltogether? Craftingateacherevaluationsystemthatdependsaslittleaspossibleon standardizedtestscores? Refusingtoexpandstandardizedtestingintoothergrades(PreKto2nd)? Pledgingnottocreatenewlocalstandardizedexams? Opposingthecreationof38thgradestandardizedexamsinsubjectsotherthan ELA,mathandscience?
X X X X X

Yes

No
X

Makingadmissionstoallschoolsbasedonmoreholisticfactors,andespecially Gifted&Talentedprogramsandthespecializedhighschools?

EncouragingotherNYChighschoolstojointheportfolio/alternativeassessment consortiumasopposedtobasinggraduationdecisionsontheresultsofthe X Regentsexams? DevelopinganonpunitiveprocessbywhichNYCparentscanchoosetohave theirchildrenoptoutofthestandardizedtesting?

X

Wouldyouproposeanyotherpolicychangesinthisarea?
Inmyreport,ThePowerofGuidance,Icallforadramaticexpansionofschoolcounselors.Ithinkthatthe additionofcounselorswillallowforamoreholisticevaluationofstudentgrowth,beyondtreatingthemas statistics.

Whatdoyouthinkisthebestuse,ifany,ofstandardizedtesting?
Standardizedtestingshouldbeoneofthemanyfactorswetakeintoconsiderationwhenevaluatingstudent, teacherandschoolsuccess.Itshouldnotbetheprimaryfactor,asithasbecome.

Resourcesandequity Thelastfewyearshaveseencutsofabout14%toschoolbudgets.Classsizeshaverisen,andinthe earlygradesareatthehighestlevelin14years.Art,music,science,andafterschoolprogramshavebeen eliminatedfrommanyschools.Howwouldyouaddresstheseissues?Howwouldyougoabout guaranteeingthecivilrightsofallstudentsandprovidingthemwithanequitableopportunitytolearn, regardlessoftheirbackground? Morespecificallywouldyou: Ensurethatschoolbudgetsremainstableand/orincreaseinthefuture? Setreducedclasssizegoalstoachievebytheendofyourfirstterm? Yes
X X

No

Complywiththeplanthecityadoptedin2007,asaresponsetotheContractsfor X Excellencestatelaw,whichcallsforclasssizereductioninallgrades? Committospendingalargerpercentofthecitybudgetonreducingclasssize,and X ifnecessary,raiserevenuetofundthis? Reevaluatefairstudentfundingtodiscernwhetherithasprovidedmoreequity or,instead,incentivestoprincipalstoincreaseclasssizeand/orgetridoftheir X experiencedteachers?

Howwouldyouaddresstheneedtoreduceclasssize,thetoppriorityofparentsontheDOEsown surveys?
Reducingclasssizerequiresadditionalfundingtohiremorepersonnel.Iwouldraisethefundingnecessary todothisthroughamoreprogressivetaxsystemwherethewealthiestNewYorkerspaymore,increase commercialrealestatetaxrates,chargeprivateequityfirmstheUnincorporatedBusinessTaxforcarried interest,andclawbacktaxbenefitsfromfirmsthatdontcreatethejobstheypromise,amongotherthings.

Howwouldyouensurethatchildrenareprovidedwithawellroundededucation,includingart,music, science,andphysicaleducation,andhowwouldyoufundthis?
Seeanswerabove.

Howwouldyougoaboutdevelopingandsupportingmeasurestoattractandretainexperiencedand highqualityteachers?
Teacherswanttoteach.Bycreatinganenvironmentwheretheyhavethefreedomtodothat,asopposedto constantevaluation.Wecanandshouldmaketheirjobsmorerewarding.Additionally,asmentioned above,Ihaveaplantoensurethatourschoolsystemisadequatelyfunded,andourteachersappropriately compensated.

Ourschoolshavebecomeincreasinglysegregatedovertime.Howwouldyouaddressthegoal ofincreasingdiversityinNYCpublicschools?Pleasebespecific.
SegregationinourschoolsisareflectionofincomedisparitiesthathavegrownduringtheBloomberg administration.AsMayorIwillclosethegapbetweenthehavesandhavenots.Theclosingofthe inequalitygapwillreverberatethroughoutourschools. IamavocalsupporterofdiversifyingthemuchvauntedSpecializedHighSchools.SchoolslikeStuyvesant HighSchoolinManhattan,orBrooklynTech,ormyownalmamater,theBronxHighSchoolofScience.Of theapproximately12,500BlackandLatinofamiliesamongthem,morethan90percent,orabout12,000, werenotadmitted. TheSpecializedHighschoolsaretheequivalentofNewYorkCity'sIvyLeague.Admittancetothese schoolsisatickettosuccess.Theybringanalmostcertainguaranteeofhighschoolgraduation,inacity wherethegraduationrateis65percent,andanalmostcertainguaranteeofcollegeacceptance.Morethan aquarterofthegraduatesofStuyvesantandBronxSciencegoontouniversityintherealIvyLeagues,at Harvard,andYale,andBrown,orothertoptiercolleges. EventhoughmoreandmoreBlackandLatinokidshavebeentakingtheSpecializedHighSchoolexam everyyearanddespiteaslightuptickthisyearrelativelyfewofthemfindtheirwayintothebest schools. AtthemostcompetitiveSpecializedHighSchoolsStuyvesantandBronxScienceManyeducational expertshavelongdecriedthisadmissionsmethodandsomegoodideashavebeenproposedtochangeit. IsupportlegislationonthestateleveltochangetheadmissionscriteriafortheSpecializedHighSchoolsto includegradepointaveragesandotherfactors,suchasinterviews,personalstatements,andportfolios,as wellasanentranceexam.Theirmodelis,infact,similartothesamebroadadmissionsprocessusedby mostcollegesanduniversitiesintheU.S. Anotherfactorthatoughttobeconsideredintheadmissionsprocessisgeography.SpecializedHigh Schoolsshouldservestudentsfromeveryneighborhoodeventhemosteconomicallydisadvantaged.
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GeographicdiversitycouldbeachievedbyreservingaseatfortheValedictorianandSalutatorian,orthetop fivepercentile,ofeverypublicmiddleschoolgraduatingclassintheCity. WhileweexplorelegislativeoptionstocrackopenadmissionstotheSpecializedHighSchools,theCity shoulddoeverythingpossiblerightnowtoincreasediversityintheseimportantschools.thenumbersare evenmorestark.RightnowatBronxScience,inastudentbodyof3,005,thereareonly320Blackand Latinostudents,orjust11percent.AtStuyvesant,of3,295students,120areBlackandLatino,orlessthan 4percent.YetBlackandLatinostudentsmakeupsome69percentofthetotalNewYorkCityPublicHigh Schoolpopulation.Today,gettingintoaSpecializedHighSchoolrequiresonethingandonethingalone:an outstandingperformanceonasingle,gruelingtest. Weshouldconsiderthefollowingstepstoimmediatelyclosethedisparity: First,theCityshouldexaminetheeffectivenessofcurrentsupportprogramsliketheSpecializedHigh SchoolInstituteandthesummerDiscoveryprogram,whicharedirectedatlowincomestudentswhowantto prepareforentranceintotheSpecializedHighSchools. Secondly,theSpecializedHighSchoolTestshouldbeanalyzedbyanobjectivethirdpartytoseeifthe examshowsanysignsofpredictivebias. Third,theCityneedstoboostmatheducationamongminoritystudentsanddoitasearlyasthirdgrade, ratherthanplayingcatchupinmiddleschoolwhenperformancegapshavealreadywidened. Fourth,theCityshouldmarkettheSpecializedHighSchoolsincommunitiesofcolortoensurethatmore studentsandtheirparentsknowaboutthegreatopportunitiestheseschoolspresent. Finally,weshouldexpandthenumberofSpecializedHighSchoolsbycreatingnewonesliketheMath, Science,andEngineeringSchoolatCityCollegeofNewYork.EntrancetotheNewYorkCitySpecialized HighSchoolsshouldbedependentonawellroundedassessmentofastudent'sknowledgeandskills, ratherthanontheabilitytoperformwellonasingletest.Theexamasitisencouragesthewidespread "teachingtothetest"thatsomanyeducationalexpertsdeplore.

Any other comments on resources and/or equity?

NearlyonequarterofhouseholdsinNewYorkCitylackacomputer,highlightingadigitaldividethat threatenstoleavemanyyoungpeoplewithoutthetechnologyskillsnecessarytosucceedafterhighschool. BlackandHispanichouseholdsareespeciallylikelytohavenocomputer(41percentand29percent respectively),asarehouseholdsintheBronx(37percent).Additionally,60percentofhouseholdswithout broadbandInternethaveannualincomeslowerthan$30,000,and73percentareheadedbysomeonewho didnotattendcollege.Toaddressthesedisparitiesandimprovestudentsabilitytousetechnology,Iissued areportrecommendingexpansionofcomputerownership,broadbandadoption,andtechnologytrainingfor studentsandtheirfamilies.Irecommend: 1)ExpandingtheCFY(formerlyComputersforYouth)programtoallNewYorkCitypublicschoolsixth gradersatschoolswhereatleast75%ofstudentsreceivefreeorreducedpricelunch.CFYparticipating familiesareprovidedarefurbishedhomecomputerthatispreloadedwitheducationalsoftwareaswellas thetrainingtouseit. 2)PuttingaMOUSESquadineveryNewYorkCitypublicmiddleandhighschool.MOUSEprovides studentswithcritical21stcenturyskillsandtrainsthemtohandletechnologicalrepairs,computer troubleshooting,helpdeskoperations,andcustomerservice.Thiswouldprovidesavingsof$15.1million annuallyinforegonetechrepaircosts. 3)GivingfreecomputerstolowincomeNewYorkCitypublicschoolgraduateswhoarecollegebound. 4)RequiringbusinessesreceivingCitytechgrantstodonateusedcomputerstoNewYorkCityindividuals withdisabilities,atriskstudents,andthosewhoareeconomicallydisadvantagedviatheNationalCristina Foundation. 5)PromotingdigitalliteracytrainingthroughtheNYC.govwebsiteandatgovernmentoffices.

Schoolfacilities
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OvercrowdingisachronicandeverworseningprobleminNYCschools.Thecityhasunderinvestedin schoolfacilitiesoverthelastdecade,resultinginmostofourstudentsattendingschoolsinovercrowded and/orsubstandardconditions.Therearethousandsofchildrenonwaitinglistsfortheirzonedelementary schools.MandatoryKindergarten,expandedPreKandcommunityschoolswithwraparoundserviceswill requireevenmorespace.Andyetthecurrentcapitalplandoesnothaveenoughnewseatstokeepup withfutureenrollmentgrowth,nottomentioneliminatingexistingovercrowdingorreducingclasssize. Doyousupportanyofthefollowingmeasures?Pleasecheckallthatapply. Amoreambitiouscapitalplanthatwouldprovidethespacenecessaryto eliminateovercrowdingandallowforsmallerclasses,aswellasdevotes sufficientfundstomaintenanceandrepair. Investalargerpercentageofthecitysoverallcapitalspendingtowardsthese goals. Reformthebluebookformulasoitmoreaccuratelyreflectsovercrowdingand incorporatestheneedforsmallerclasses. Committoprovidingtransparentenrollmentprojections. Requiredeveloperstoprovidespaceforschoolsinovercrowdedareasorpay impactfeesintoafundforschoolconstruction. Yes
X

No

X X X X

Doyouhaveanyotherproposalstoaddressovercrowding?
AsComptrollerIhavecreatedcreativewaystofundcapitalprojectsthroughleantimes.MyCapital Accelerationplan,GreenAppleBondsandleveragingofthepensionfundshavebeengreatplanstoget capitalprojectsstarted.Moreofthosesmartapproacheswillbeneededtoensurewehaveenoughspace forourstudents.

Privatization DOEisspendingmorethan$4billionthisyearonprivatecontracts,whichrepresentsthefastestgrowing partofitsbudget.Moreandmoreeducationalandsupportservicesarebeingoutsourcedandthebudget forcharterschoolsisapproaching$1billion. Wouldyou: Reducethespendingonprivatization,outsourcing,contractsandconsultants? Ifyouransweredyestotheabovequestion,howwouldyoudoso?

IwouldrequiretheagencytoexplainwhytheprojectcouldnotbecompletedwithCity employeesbeforeIwouldapproveacontractforoutsourcedwork.
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Yes
X

No

Preventtheawardingofcontractstocompaniesthathavealreadybeenshownto X havestolenfundsoraresuspectedofcorruption?

Ifyouransweredyestotheabovequestion,howwouldyoudoso?
Iwouldplacecompaniesthatstealfundsorarecorruptonadonothirelist,banning themfrombeingawardedanyCitycontract.

Supportthecontinuedexpansionofcharterschools? SupportthepracticeofcolocatingcharterschoolsinexistingDOEfacilities? Enforcetheprovisionsinstatelaw,whichrequirescolocatedcharterschoolsto payfortheservicesandspacethattheynowcurrentlyreceivefromtheDOEfor X free?

X X

Howwouldyouworktoamelioratethedivideandinequitiesbetweenthecharterschoolcommunityand thoseindistrictpublicschools?
Charterschoolsarebeinggiventhebestfacilitiesandresourcesinsideofpublicschools,whichputthe existingpublicschoolataseveredisadvantage.Weneedtoensurethatpublicschoolsaregivenadequate resourcestosucceed.

Anyothercommentsonprivatization?
TheCityhasbecomemuchtoodependentonconsultantsthatwindupcostingtheCityintheend.Ihave uncoveredunsavorypracticeswithCityTimeandthe911callcenterandahostofexamplesofirresponsible contracting.ThroughoutmytenureasComptrollerIhavecalledfortheinsourcingofcontracts.

Schoolclosings,smallschoolsandonlinelearning MayorBloombergwillhaveclosedmorethan150schoolsduringhisadministration,andcreatedmorethan 450newsmallschools.Mostparentsopposedtheseschoolclosingsbecausetheydisruptedourchildrens educationanddisplacedtheneedieststudentselsewhere.Thereisalsodiscontentwiththerequirement thatallnewschoolsbesmalli.e.400studentsorlesswhichleadstoaninefficientuseofresourcesand space,anddifficultyinprovidingstudentswithadvancedcourseworkandafullrangeofextracurricular activities.Therapidexpansionofonlinelearninghasalsobeenamongthisadministrationspriorities, replacingthepersonalcontactbetweenstudentandteacherbydeliveringcoursecontentandinstruction throughcomputersandsoftware.

Wouldyou: ContinuetheBloombergerapolicyofclosingschoolsandformingnewschools, orinsteadpledgetodomoretoimproveexistingschools? Relaxtherequirementthatallnewschoolsbeofasmallsize? Ensurethatstudentshavefull,facetoface,inpersonaccesstoteacher,or continuetoexpandonlinelearningasthealternative?

Yes

No
X

X X

Othercommentsonschoolclosures/newschools/onlinelearning?
Itisessentialthatstudentsgrownupcapableoffunctioningandthrivinginadigitalworld.However, elearningisnosubstituteforapresentteacher.

Transparency EvenexpertsattheIndependentBudgetOfficesaytheDOEsbudgethasbecomelesstransparentthan inthepast,makingitdifficultifnotimpossibleforparentsandadvocatestolearnwhatfundsarebeing spenton,nottomentiongiveinputaboutpossibleimprovementsinspending&priorities.Freedomof InformationLaw(FOIL)requestsarerarelyrespondedto,andneverpromptly,andthereismuchdata thattheDOErefusestodisclose,suchasresultsofsurveysandenrollmentprojections. Whichofthefollowingmeasurestoincreaseoveralltransparencywouldyoucarryout? Yes Pleasecheckallthatapply. Itemized,fullydetailedbreakdownsofeducationbudgetcomparabletoothercity X agencies RespondtoFOILsinatimelyandcompletefashion ProvideanonlinelogwhichreportsonwhichFOILshavebeensubmittedand whentheywererespondedto,withalinktotheresults[alongthemodelofthe Illinoisboardofeducationseehttp://www.isbe.state.il.us/foia/default.htm] Moreaccuratereportingofclasssizeandovercrowding
X X X

No

Anyothersuggestionsastohowtoincreasetransparency?
AsComptroller,ImademyofficeintooneofthemosttransparentCityagencies,garneringnational recognition,andarrangingforthebroadcastingofpensionboardmeetings.Myofficehascreatedasuiteof toolsonlinewhereanyonecantrackCityspending.IwouldexpandtheseinitiativesCitywide.

Specialeducation Underthecurrentspecialeducationreform,schoolsarerequiredtoaccommodatechildrenwithalarge varietyofspecialneedsingeneraleducationorinclusionclasses,oftenresultingintheirbeingplacedin extremelylargeclassorwithateacherwhoisnotadequatelytrained.Infact,principalshavebeen instructedtoaccommodatechildrenwithIndividualEducationalPlans(IEPs)ingeneraleducationclasses uptothelegallimit(32childrenperclassinmostelementarygrades).Whileparentsunderstandthe benefitsofinclusion,theyworrythatsufficientresourcesandstaffingarenotbeingprovidedeithertomeet theneedsofstudentswithdisabilitiesortherestofthestudentsintheclass. Wouldyou: Promisetoreleasereportstwiceayear,showinghowmanystudentshaveIEPs thatareoutofcompliance? Yes
X

No

Agreetocommissionareport,inconsultationwithCitywideCouncilonSpecial EducationandtheDistrict75CitywideCouncil,byanindependentresearch X groupontheimplementationofthespecialeducationreform,includingsurvey resultsfromparents,students,administratorsandeducatorsattheschoollevel Commissionastudy,againbyanindependentexpert,analyzingthecausesofthe increaseinthenumberandpercentofstudentsdiagnosedwithspecialneeds? X SuchnumbershavebeenontheincreaseinNYCinthepastfiveyears.

Howwillyoumakesurethattheneedsofstudentswithdisabilitiesaremet,thattheyareprovidedwiththe individualattentionandsmallerclassesthattheyrequire,andthatthefundingprovidedissufficientandis properlyspenttoachievethesegoals?

TheDOEhasbeenadisasteratgettingMedicaidreimbursementsfromthefederalgovernment.We estimatethattheyhaveleft$150milliononthetable.Muchofthatmoneyisdedicatedforstudentswith specialneeds.IwouldensurethattheDOEgetsallofthefederalmoneyforwhichitisentitled.

Estimatesarethat25%ofspecialneedsstudentsinNYCdonotreceivetheirmandatedservices.How wouldyouensurethatallstudentswithdisabilitiesreceivetheirservicespromptly?
Asmentionedabovebyclaimingourreimbursementswecanensurethatstudentswithdisabilitiesreceive theirservices.

Howwouldyouradministrationdealwiththeoverrepresentation/identificationofstudentsofcolorin specialeducation?
Weneedtomakesurethatthepeoplethatidentifystudentsforspecialeducationhavethecultural competencytomakethosedeterminations.

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Othersuggestionstoimproveopportunitiesforstudentswithdisabilities?

Otherpolicies Cellphoneban Yes No

X

Mostparentsbelievethatforsafetyreasonstheirchildrenshouldbeallowedtocarrycellphonestoand fromschool.Wouldyoucontinuetheofficialpolicyofprohibitingstudentsfrombringingtheircellphones toschool?

Privacyprotections Thestateandthecityarecurrentlysharinghighlysensitive,personallyidentifiablestudentdatawitha corporationnamedinBloomInc.,whichisstoringitonavulnerabledatacloudandmakingitavailableto forprofitvendorswithoutparentalconsent.Atthesametime,inBloomhasstateditwillnotbeheld responsibleifthedataleaksouteitherinstorageortransmission. Wouldyouagreeto: PullNYCstudentdataoutoftheinBloomcloudassoonaspossible? Pledgenottosharepersonallyidentifiablestudentdatawithanythirdparty withoutparentalconsent? Yes
X X

No

Schooltoprison Manyparentsandadvocatesareconcernedbythenumberofpoliceinourschoolsandthehighrateof studentswhoarearrestedforminoroffenses.Whatwouldyoudotoprotectchildrenwithminor behavioralissuesfrombeingsuspendedorotherwiseforcedintotheschooltoprisonpipeline?

Weneedtoreexaminetheschooljusticesystem.Thecultureofsuspensionshasgrownoutofcontroland onlysetsstudentsthatneedthemosthelp,furtherback.Weneedtolookatinnovativewaystochangethe disciplinaryclimatethatwillteachstudentshowtobeaccountablefortheiractionsinaconstructiveway. Myofficereleasedareportrecently,TheSuspensionSpike:ChangingtheDisciplineCultureinNYCs MiddleSchools,whichoffersablueprintforreplacingtheDOEsfailedzerotolerancepolicywithrestorative justicepracticesthathelpmiddleschoolstudentsstayinschoolandremainonthepathtocollegeand careerreadiness. Thisreportdemonstratesthesadrealitythatthestopandfriskatmosphere,whichpresumesthatmenof
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colorareguiltyuntilproveninnocent,beginsasearlyasage11.Childrenages11to14arestilllearning howtomanagetheirownfeelingsandbehavior.TheDOEspolicyofremovingthemfromtheirclassrooms forevensmallinfractionsteachesthemnothingandmayinfactworsentheirconduct.Researchershave foundthatsuchsuspensionsoftenleadtohigherdropoutratesandotherbadoutcomes.Weneedtostand byourkidsandgivethemtheguidancetheyneed,notmakethemfeellikecriminals.

Creditrecovery Toinflatetheirgraduationrates,someschoolshaveimplementedsubstandardcreditrecoveryprograms basedononlinelearningorpacketsofhomeworkthatallowstudentswhohavefailedtheircoursesto graduateontime.Howwouldyouaddressthisissuetoensurethatreceivingahighschooldiploma actuallymeansthatastudentisequippedtobecomeaproductivecitizen?

Thatpracticeisunacceptableandisdamagingforthestudent.Thisisanotherinstancewherean overemphasisonnumbersisdrivinglearningasopposedtocommonsense.

Openendedquestions Pleasesummarizeyourrecordofachievementsinpubliceducationasapolicymaker.
WhileaCouncilMember,IservedasamemberoftheCommitteeonEducation,whereIhadtheopportunity toquestionandmakerecommendationstotopDepartmentofEducationofficials.Ialsosponsoredandhelp passmajorlegislationimprovingthelivesofstudents,includingalawthatIintroducedthatcreatedaone minuteidlingperiodadjacenttoschoolstopreventstudents,parents,schoolstaffandothersfrombreathing noxiousfumes. AsComptrollerIhavereleasedaseriesofreportsthatdetailplansforeducationinourCity.Thefirstof these,BeyondHighSchool,makesthecaseformassiveinvestmentsineducationandviewseducationas aneconomicdevelopmentstrategy.Additionally,myreportsNoMoreRubberStamp,ThePowerof Guidance,andEarlyChildhoodEducationdemonstrateacommitmenttoreformingoureducationsystem.

Pleasedescribethewaysinwhich,asapublicofficial,youhavedemonstratedresponsivenesstoparental concernsorcommunitymembersintheareaofpubliceducation?
Asdiscussed,asaCouncilMember,oneofthebillsthatIintroduced,whichbecamelaw,limitsidlingnear schoolstooneminute.Ihavealsobeenacosponsorofabilladdressingbullyingintheschools.Asa CouncilMember,Ialsomadesuretoaddresstheequipmentandotherneedsofalloftheschoolsinmy district,includingmakingsuretheyhadthelatesttechnology.AsComptroller,Ihavecontinuedtoadvocate vigorouslyforreshapingourpublicschoolssothatallthechildrenareequippedtograduatefromcollege afterleavingourpublicschools.
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Whatwouldbeyourtopeducationalprioritiesifelectedmayor?
Mytopeducationalprioritywouldbetoensurethatstudentswhograduatefromourpublicschoolshavethe skillsnecessarytogotocollegeandgraduate.Increasingly,acollegedegreeisneededtogetagood payingentryleveljob.Theeducationthatourschoolsshouldbeabletohelpitsgraduatesobtainagood payingjob.

HowwouldyourapproachdifferfromthecurrentMayor,andinwhatwayswouldyouemulatehis policies?
IwouldbemuchmoreresponsivetothecommunitysinputthanthecurrentMayor.Myreportsabove articulatethewaysinwhichIwouldchangeoureducationalsystem.

Anythingelseyouwouldliketoshare?
Themostpromisingstrategyforachievinglongtermfiscalbalance,economicprosperity,andahighquality ofurbanlifeinNewYorkCityisonethatfocusesonelevatingtheeducationalattainmentofitspopulation or,ineconomistslanguage,byinvestinginhumancapital.Weneedtoevaluateeducationfromtopto bottomtoensurethatitservesstudentsandparentsneeds.

Yes Wouldyouagreeforamemberofourgrouptointerviewyouinperson,ifwehave followupquestions?

X

No

Thankyousomuchfortakingthetimetoanswerourquestions.

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