Bringing a Public Voice to the School Governance Debate: The Campaign for Better Schools and Mayoral Control in New York City

Abstract

Introduction

Research for Action (RFA) has a long and rich history of studying the nuance, context and consequences of Philadelphia’s efforts at urban school reform, especially with an eye toward the role of community organizing and civic engagement in calling for significant reforms. It was with that lens that RFA, in collaboration with a New York partner, Dr. Jeffrey Henig of Teachers College, embarked upon a two-year inquiry to study the effects of the Donors’ Education Collaborative (DEC) and its investment in school reform efforts. DEC is a joint grantmaking effort that since 1995 has supported policy reforms aimed at making the New York City public school system more equitable and responsive to the needs of all children. The collaboration of research, organizing, advocacy and policy groups funded by DEC, which took shape to become the Campaign for Better Schools, sought to interject authentic parent and community voices into the debate about mayoral control of New York City’s public school system.

This is a story of advocacy and organizing that parallels the sustained efforts of education groups and coalitions in Philadelphia and other large cities. The competition of ideas, strategies and negotiations in a fast-paced political arena offer valuable lessons learned, especially as dramatic education reform initiatives take root in cities and states throughout the country. Perhaps those lessons learned come not only from the Campaign’s policy victories, but also from its trials and successes in pursuit of long-lasting, sustainable education reform.