On January 30, 2024 the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) and several of our member and partner organizations submitted the following joint testimony on the issue of Mayoral Control in New York City.

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New York State Education Department:

On behalf of undersigned groups we are submitting testimony on Mayoral Control to express our deep concerns about the prolonged implementation of Mayoral Control in New York City's public schools.

Mayoral Control, as it stands, has disenfranchised important stakeholders such as students, educators, and parents, removing their power in crucial decision-making processes. The appointment of a Chancellor and a majority of the Board of Education members by the Mayor, without democratic elections, raises serious questions about the transparency and accountability of the system.

Over the past 21 years, Mayoral Control has led to several issues directly impacting our communities. These include significant budget cuts in education, a lack of support for parent participation in the school system, widening achievement gaps, and the exacerbation of the school-to-prison pipeline. This exacerbation occurs through the diversion of resources from crucial components such as social and emotional learning, culturally responsive curriculum, and mental health support towards increased policing, neglecting essential youth development needs for school safety and perpetuating a cycle of violence. Furthermore, the consistent changes in educational policies with each new mayor adds to the destabilization of our education system.

As members of the Asian American community we are grappling with issues like language access, culturally responsive support and education, and anti-Asian hate-based bullying in schools. To properly address these pressing issues, we need a system that empowers parents, students, and staff at all levels. We believe in a system that engages with communities, prioritizes programs and services for the most disenfranchised, and serves the interests of students and families.

The evaluation of Mayoral Control, both the harms and potential benefits should be conducted by the New York State Education Department in honest and transparent collaboration with key community stakeholders including educators, parents, and students. The decision to continue or alter the current school governance structure should NOT be connected to the state budget. The NYC public school system was not perfect before mayoral control. However, the challenges created by Mayoral control of the past 20+ years necessitate honest evaluation on what is the best process moving forward.

We ask for an alternative to Mayoral Control that centers educators, parents, and students and establishes a truly participatory educational system reflective of the diverse voices and needs of our communities.

Your attention to this matter is crucial for the well-being and future success of our students. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)

Access Future

Asian American Arts Alliance

Armenian-American Action Network

Caribbean Equality Project

Chhaya Community Development Corp.

Japanese American Social Services, Inc.

MinKwon Center for Community Action

National Federation of Filipino Americans - NY (NaFFAA-NY)

Project Ready

Sapna NYC

Turning Point for Women and Families

Women's Empowerment Coalition of NYC

Heng-Gil Han, Community Member (School District 6)

Rachelle Ocampo, Parent (School District 26)

Faye Zhang, Educator, Parent, School Administrator (School District 10)