Why I gave the mayor control of NYC’s 1.1 million school children

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As a father, I share the concerns of parents who have questioned how well schools serve their children. I have wondered if the curriculum will truly strengthen their skills to provide the needed foundation for success.

Ten years ago, my fears were the reality that many parents had to face.

New York City public schools were failing. They did not meet our communities’ expectations; fell short of the promises made to our parents; and ultimately neglected the needs of our children. Despite the efforts of teachers, parents and even the students themselves, our system of education lacked direction. In 2002, my partners in government sought to address these disservices and correct the policies that allowed for poor school performance. The enacted school governance reforms provided desperately needed mechanisms for improvement, and now we have an education system that boasts of true achievement.

Since school governance reform first took effect, we have seen an increase in the number of students who have passed assessment tests. For instance, over the past seven years, eighth graders and fourth graders have steadily improved upon their reading and math exams. We have celebrated similar records with the graduation rate, while at the same time, narrowing the achievement gap.

We have created a public school system that is responsible to its community–from the parents who entrust their children to its educators, to the students who fill its classrooms.

While we have more work to do, it is clear that we have a proven formula in school governance. The legislation I signed into law yesterday ensures that we will continue to make strides in the classroom while also adding new layers of cohesion and stability. The renewed school governance legislation will also foster better parent engagement, particularly through the creation of the Parent Training Center, which increases the parents’ ability to participate in the public school system through training and support programs. I believe strongly that with the renewal of school governance, parents need not worry about the quality of education in New York City and can trust that their children will be prepared for the opportunities to come.