News in Brief: A National Roundup

Sheldon Silver, the speaker of the New York Assembly, has formed an advisory group to study governance options for the New York City schools, including handing control of the 1.1 million-student system to the mayor.

The decision to form the panel is seen as important because Mr. Silver, a Democrat who has fought to protect the board's authority, is central to getting legislation passed.

The panel, named last month, consists of powerful figures from the state's and city's business, political, and nonprofit worlds. It represents the latest step in a growing movement to give the mayor greater power over the...