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Chain of Command New York City Department of Education

Confused about how the New York City system fits together? Who is in charge? Well, with the changes to the law, it is simpler now than it used to be. Here is a summary:

Mayor

  • Hires the Chancellor and appoints 8 of 13 City Board members.

Board of Education or "City Board" or "Panel for Educational Policy"

  • Main responsibility: Approve major policy changes (through resolutions); §2590-g:
    • Policy directly related to student achievement;
    • Major educational contracts that would significantly impact the provision of educational services or programming;
    • Collective bargaining agreements;
  • Composed of 13 members; §2590-b(1)(a):
    • 5: One appointed by each borough president - member must be a resident of the borough and have a child within the city school district;
    • 7: Appointed by the Mayor - must be a resident of the city;
    • 1: Chancellor - appointed by the Mayor;
  • Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing official and shall not be employed in any capacity by New York City;
  • Board must have at least twelve meetings per year; §2690-b(1)(b);
  • See current members of the Board of Education;
  • Powers and duties:
    • Mainly to advise the Chancellor on matters of policy;
    • Can bring some charges, in accordance with Civil Service Law §75, against employees; Bylaws §4.2.1;
    • Must define the boundaries of community school districts within the city district every ten years starting in 2004; §2590-b(2)(c);
    • Redistrict Advisory Study group will study this and make recommendations; process must be public;
    • The Chancellor is authorized to establish and publish appropriate rules and regulations for the processing of appeals with the approval of the Board; Bylaws §5.1;
    • Does not supervise the day-to-day operations of any school within the city school district;
  • The Chancellor can issue an order to any community board and/or superintendent requiring any conduct that the Chancellor believes is improper to cease or take other required action; §2590-l;
  • Board Meetings:
    • Open to the public;
    • Quorum: Majority of the members.

Chancellor

  • Chairperson of the Panel for Educational Policy;
  • Serves at the pleasure of the Mayor;
  • Previously served at the pleasure of the Board;
  • Length of term cannot extend more than two years;
  • Four volumes of Chancellor's Regulations cover nearly all aspects of public schools. See the Regulations;
  • Powers and duties; 2590-h:
    • Examples: fiscal and educational equity, operate senior high schools and all specialized high schools, school construction oversight, promulgate clear educational standards and curriculum to be periodically evaluated, training programs for principals and employees, develop a parental bill of rights, and transfer of principals. Based on scores, schools are ranked and then must follow rules promulgated by the Chancellor if they fall below a certain level;
    • Shall promulgate minimum education and experience requirements for all teaching and supervisory positions; §2590-j(2);
    • Shall cause a reading examination to be administered annually to all pupils in all schools in each community district (5a-e);
    • If community superintendent causes charges to be brought against an employee, the Chancellor usually determines what action to take; §2590-j(7)(d);
    • Can issue an order requiring a community district to cease an activity that violates any law, bylaw, rule, or regulation, etc., in addition to §2590-h; §2590-l(1);
    • Community District or superintendent can appeal to the City Board; §2590-l(2);
    • Must develop an election process for the parent and parent-teacher associations in each District Education Council (see District education councils above and §2590-h(15)(b-1));
    • Prepares an educational facilities master plan and five-year educational facilities capital plans; §2590-p.

Regions or "Instructional Divisions"

  • Focus: Implementing the new comprehensive instructional approach;
  • There are 10 Instructional Divisions located throughout the city, each covers approximately 120 schools and is led by a Regional Superintendent;
  • The offices will be called "Learning Support Center Sites" and will provide a range of services to parents.

Regional Superintendents

  • The 10 Regional Superintendents report to the Deputy Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. The Deputy and these 10 will form the senior instructional management team of the school system;
  • The current 10 were selected by the Deputy Chancellor on the basis of demonstrated leadership, and the Chancellor made the final decision;
  • The 10 new Instructional Divisions will be comprised of groups of 2-4 existing Community School Districts, as well as the high schools located within the geographic boundaries of the divisions;
  • Each Regional Superintendent oversees all aspects of instruction for the public school system, including classroom instruction.

Community District Education Councils or "Community Council"; formerly "Community Boards"; §2590-c (2003 N.Y. ALS 123 §3)

  • Goal: Encourage greater participation by parents, community residents, and other citizens in local schools;
  • There are 32 Community Councils (one community council for each district education council);
  • Composed of 12 members (a-c):
    • 9: Parents whose children are attending a school under the jurisdiction of the community district and shall be selected by the presidents and officers of the parents' association or parent-teachers' association. 2 year terms;
    • The Chancellor must develop an election process for election of these associations and must assure process is uniform (8a), meets fair cross-section of the community (8c), and is public;
    • 2: Appointed by borough president. Must be residents of, or own or operate a business in, the district and will make a significant contribution to improving education in the district. 2 year terms;
    • 1: Non-voting high school senior, appointed by the school district superintendent. 1 year term;
  • Submit to the City Board a performance report every month (7a);
  • Promulgate rules and regulations regarding financial disclosure (8e). Before passing any regulations, the Chancellor must ensure there is a public process to ensure public input;
  • Shall prescribe bylaws and regulations §2590-d(2) that must include:
    • A parents' association (or parent-teachers') in each school §2590-h(15));
    • Regular communication between Council, community superintendent, and the principal of each school, and at least once per quarter meet with elected officers;
    • Council develops a process for community input in evaluations of the district superintendent and other supervisors;
    • Council's duties are largely advisory;
    • Evaluates district superintendent and other instructional supervisors assigned or appointed to the district by the Chancellor; §2590-d(2c);
    • Holds monthly meetings with the district superintendent;
    • Prepares a school district report card and make it publicly available; §2590-e(8).

Community Superintendents; §2590-f

  • The Chancellor appoints community superintendents in compliance with certain education, managerial, and administrative qualifications; §2590-h(29, 30);
  • Duties: 21 different categories are listed as duties/responsibilities (1, a-u);
  • Except supervisors, superintendents appoint, define the duties of, assign, promote, and discharge all employees of the community district, and fixes their compensation and terms of employment, consistent with any collective bargaining agreement §2590-f(1)(c);
  • Appoints supervisory personnel from the candidates screened by a committee including parents, teachers, and school support personnel (d);
  • Appoints or rejects the principal candidates screened by screening committees (e);
  • Evaluates principal's performance, authority to transfer or remove principals, reviews and approves school-based budgets;
  • Operates cafeteria or restaurant services for pupils, teachers, the community for school related functions and activities, and the elderly of the district (m);
  • Can initiate charges against some employees for certain offenses; §2590-j(7)(b)(1-6).

Schools & Principals; §2590-i

  • The principal is the administrative and instructional leader of an individual school, subject to the Chancellor's Regulations and collective bargaining agreements; the principal is responsible for day-to-day operations of the school;
  • The principal selects curricula, syllabi, and texts from lists approved by the Chancellor, and subject to superintendent's approval.

Teachers and Supervisors

  • With the approval of the City Board, the Chancellor promulgates the minimum education and experience requirements for teachers;
  • The Chancellor appoints and assigns teachers and supervisory personnel for all schools and programs from eligible lists selected at random from qualifying eligible lists (4a, b). See our chart How Do I Fill a Teacher Vacancy In My School.

Miscellaneous

  • New body created: "Citywide Council on Special Education":
    • 9 members: Parents of special education children;
    • 2 members: Appointed by public advocate;
    • 1 member: High school special education student (non-voting);
    • 2 year terms.