A group representing New York City’s influential local school boards has come out against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s control of the public schools, which expires in June, unless significant limits are placed on his power.
Leaders of the Education Council Consortium, which includes members from the city’s 32 local school districts—and four citywide councils—sent a letter to state legislative leaders last week that calls on the legislature to consider a list of checks on de Blasio’s power over city classrooms.
Most pointedly, the activists are calling on the legislature to revoke de Blasio’s control of the Panel for Educational Policy, which makes decisions about opening and closing schools and approves contracts and changes to school regulations.
A de Blasio spokeswoman said a wide range of lawmakers, education advocates, and business and labor leaders support mayoral control of the public schools.
