Signed by Governor David Paterson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that retains the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York (City Board) as the chief oversight board for New York City schools until June 30, 2015, and issues various other amendments to the education code, including, but not limited to, the following highlights.

Highlights:

-Amends the membership of City Board as follows (Sec. 1):

-Existing law:
-7 members appointed by the Mayor of New York City; -1 member appointed by each borough president; and -Chancellor of the city district, serving as the chairperson;
-New law:
-8 members appointed by the Mayor of New York City; -1 member appointed by each borough president; -Chancellor of the City District, serving as an ex-officio non-voting member; and -Chairperson shall be elected by the voting members.

-Requires 2 of the Mayor's appointees to the City Board to be parents of children currently enrolled in a school within the city district (Sec. 1). -Expands the City Board's authority to approve contracts, originally limited to contracts that would "significantly impact" educational services or programming within the district, to now include any contract in which one of the following applies (Sec. 6):

-The contract was let by a procurement method other than competitive sealed bidding; -The contract provides for technical, consultant, or personal services; -The value of the contract exceeds $1 million; or -The value of the contract projects and annual expenditure exceeding $1 million.

-Expands the powers and duties of the City Board, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 6):

-Approving all regulations proposed by the Chancellor of the city district; -Approving the educational facilities capital plan; -Approving annual estimates of funding which it deems necessary for the operation of the city district and the capital budget; -Approving the allocation of projected revenues among community districts and their schools; -Approving procurement policy for the city district; -Approving proposals for all school closures or significant changes in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools; -Adopting a policy proposed by the Chancellor of the city district that promotes the recruitment and retention of a workforce at the city district, community district, and school level that considers diversity of the students attending the public schools within the city district; -Approving all franchises, revocable consents, and concessions awarded by the city district or the community districts; and -Conducting annual surveys to allow parents, teachers and school personnel to evaluate the performance of the City Board and the Chancellor of the city district with respect to city district resources, oversight, and curriculum.

-Expands the powers and duties of the Superintendent, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):

-Developing a decision-making relationship with the school based management team, and specifies that the superintendent must have access to all school records; -Establishing a process for school based management members, other than the principal, to dispute decisions made by the principal; -Providing assistance to parents in accessing information, addressing concerns, and responding to complaints related to their child's education that cannot be resolved at the school level; -Holding at least two public forums within the district during each school year for the purpose of reporting on the district's performance, discussing plans for improvement, and receiving comments from parents and the general community; and -Providing notice of any proposed school closing or significant change in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools.

-Authorizes the Independent Budget Office to provide analysis and issue public reports on the following issues of the city district (Sec. 11):

-Student graduation and dropout data; -Student enrollment projections; -School utilization, class sizes, and pupil-to-teacher ratios; -Student assessment data; -Delivery of services to students with disabilities; -Utilization of federal funds; and -Matters relating to city district finances.

-Establishes a city-wide council on English language learners, consisting of the following (Sec. 1):

-9 voting members who are parents of students who are in bilingual or English and a second language program; -2 voting members appointed by the Public Advocate of New York City; and -1 non-voting member who is a high-school senior who is or has been in a bilingual or English and second language program.

-Establishes the following powers and duties of the city-wide council on English language learners (Sec. 1):

-Advising and commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving bilingual or English and second language program; -Issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the city district in providing services to English language learners and making recommendations; and -Holding at least one meeting per month in which the public may discuss issues facing English language learners.

-Establishes a city-wide council on high schools, consisting of the following (Sec. 1):

-10 voting members who are parents of public high school students; -1 voting member who is a parent of a high school student with an individualized education program; -1 voting member who is a parent of a high school student who is in a bilingual or English as a second language program; -1 voting member appointed by the Public Advocate of New York City; and -1 non-voting member who is a public high school senior.

-Establishes the following powers and duties of the city-wide council on high schools (Sec. 1):

-Advising and commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving public high schools; -Issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the city district in providing services to high school students and making recommendations; and -Holding at least one meeting per month in which the public may discuss issues facing high schools.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that retains the Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York (City Board) as the chief oversight board for New York City schools until June 30, 2015, and issues various other amendments to the education code, including, but not limited to, the following highlights.

Highlights:

-Amends the membership of City Board as follows (Sec. 1):

-Existing law:
-7 members appointed by the Mayor of New York City; -1 member appointed by each borough president; and -Chancellor of the city district, serving as the chairperson;
-New law:
-8 members appointed by the Mayor of New York City; -1 member appointed by each borough president; -Chancellor of the City District, serving as an ex-officio non-voting member; and -Chairperson shall be elected by the voting members.

-Requires 2 of the Mayor's appointees to the City Board to be parents of children currently enrolled in a school within the city district (Sec. 1). -Expands the City Board's authority to approve contracts, originally limited to contracts that would "significantly impact" educational services or programming within the district, to now include any contract in which one of the following applies (Sec. 6):

-The contract was let by a procurement method other than competitive sealed bidding; -The contract provides for technical, consultant, or personal services; -The value of the contract exceeds $1 million; or -The value of the contract projects and annual expenditure exceeding $1 million.

-Expands the powers and duties of the City Board, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 6):

-Approving all regulations proposed by the Chancellor of the city district; -Approving the educational facilities capital plan; -Approving annual estimates of funding which it deems necessary for the operation of the city district and the capital budget; -Approving the allocation of projected revenues among community districts and their schools; -Approving procurement policy for the city district; -Approving proposals for all school closures or significant changes in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools; -Adopting a policy proposed by the Chancellor of the city district that promotes the recruitment and retention of a workforce at the city district, community district, and school level that considers diversity of the students attending the public schools within the city district; -Approving all franchises, revocable consents, and concessions awarded by the city district or the community districts; and -Conducting annual surveys to allow parents, teachers and school personnel to evaluate the performance of the City Board and the Chancellor of the city district with respect to city district resources, oversight, and curriculum.

-Expands the powers and duties of the Superintendent, including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 5):

-Developing a decision-making relationship with the school based management team, and specifies that the superintendent must have access to all school records; -Establishing a process for school based management members, other than the principal, to dispute decisions made by the principal; -Providing assistance to parents in accessing information, addressing concerns, and responding to complaints related to their child's education that cannot be resolved at the school level; -Holding at least two public forums within the district during each school year for the purpose of reporting on the district's performance, discussing plans for improvement, and receiving comments from parents and the general community; and -Providing notice of any proposed school closing or significant change in school utilization, including the phase-out, grade reconfiguration, re-siting, or co-location of schools.

-Authorizes the Independent Budget Office to provide analysis and issue public reports on the following issues of the city district (Sec. 11):

-Student graduation and dropout data; -Student enrollment projections; -School utilization, class sizes, and pupil-to-teacher ratios; -Student assessment data; -Delivery of services to students with disabilities; -Utilization of federal funds; and -Matters relating to city district finances.

-Establishes a city-wide council on English language learners, consisting of the following (Sec. 1):

-9 voting members who are parents of students who are in bilingual or English and a second language program; -2 voting members appointed by the Public Advocate of New York City; and -1 non-voting member who is a high-school senior who is or has been in a bilingual or English and second language program.

-Establishes the following powers and duties of the city-wide council on English language learners (Sec. 1):

-Advising and commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving bilingual or English and second language program; -Issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the city district in providing services to English language learners and making recommendations; and -Holding at least one meeting per month in which the public may discuss issues facing English language learners.

-Establishes a city-wide council on high schools, consisting of the following (Sec. 1):

-10 voting members who are parents of public high school students; -1 voting member who is a parent of a high school student with an individualized education program; -1 voting member who is a parent of a high school student who is in a bilingual or English as a second language program; -1 voting member appointed by the Public Advocate of New York City; and -1 non-voting member who is a public high school senior.

-Establishes the following powers and duties of the city-wide council on high schools (Sec. 1):

-Advising and commenting on any educational or instructional policy involving public high schools; -Issuing an annual report on the effectiveness of the city district in providing services to high school students and making recommendations; and -Holding at least one meeting per month in which the public may discuss issues facing high schools.

Full Bill Text