December 2004
Reflections on Campaign for Fiscal Equity
By Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Ensuring that every public school student has the opportunity to get a high-quality and meaningful education has been one of our administration's top priorities, which makes the opinion of the Special Referee Panel especially gratifying. READ ARTICLE
GED Exams End in January Without New Funding
By Steven Sanders
Due to a federal ruling disallowing the use by New York State of certain federal funds for administering the General Equivalency Diploma exams —and deep cuts made by Governor Pataki to the State Education Department's budget—may be canceled after January. READ ARTICLE
“Happy Holidays!”
By Matilda Raffa Cuomo
Established nearly ten years ago, Mentoring USA (MUSA) is the largest school and site-based, one-to-one mentoring program in New York City. We look forward to expanding our program to include almost 1,000 children in 2005. READ ARTICLE
Lessons from the Galapagos
By Jill Levy
They were all over the place everywhere I looked. And when I wasn't looking, they were under my feet, moving silently in a foreordained direction. READ MORE
November 2004
Getting
to the Heart of the Problem
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg READ
ARTICLE
State Ignored Threat
of
Elevated Lead Levels in Water at 120 Schools
by Assenblyman Steven Sanders READ
ARTICLE
An
Investment in Family
and Education for Homeless Children
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo READ
ARTICLE
Working
Together for Kids
by Randi Weingarten READ
ARTICLE
October 2004
Homeless
Prevention Programs for At-Risk Families
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Tom Hameline, Ph.D. READ
ARTICLE
Education
Through the Libertarian Lens
by Richard Campagna READ
ARTICLE
September 2004
Fighting
to Keep New Yorkers Healthy
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg MORE
Education & Services
for Homeless Children
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo MORE
Bush
Education Policy Leaves Common Sense Behind
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders MORE
August 2004
The Challenge Ahead
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders MORE
Let Freedom
Rise
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg MORE
Literacy:
The First Step on the Ladder of Achievement
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo & Matteo
David Cavazos MORE
Taking
the Bully By The Horns
by Jill Levy, President, CSA MORE
July 2004
Making Progress on Our
Future
by Mayor Michael
R. Bloomberg
READ
MORE
New Community Councils
Hold Great Promise for City SchoolS...
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
READ
MORE
Corporate Champions
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo & Steve
Larosiliere
READ
MORE
Take Care of the People
Who Educate Our Youngest
by Jill Levy
READ
MORE
June 2004
Arts & Education: Ensuring
our Cultural Future
by State Senator
Liz Krueger
READ
MORE
“Twas
brillig and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogroves, And the mome raths outgrabe.”
—Lewis Carroll,
Alice Through the Looking-Glass
by Jill Levy, President,
CSA
READ
MORE
Protecting
the City
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
READ
MORE
“Tick, Tick,
Tick...”
by Assemblyman Steven
Sanders
READ
MORE
May 2004
Join New York's
Brightest
by Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg READ MORE
Grade Retention
Policy
Must Address Learning Disabilities
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders READ
MORE
Leadership
with a Heart
by
Jill Levy, President, CSA READ
MORE
Get in Gear
for Summer with Toys “R” Us
READ
MORE
April 2004
Ending Social Promotion So Our Kids Can Learn
by Mayor Michael
R. Bloomberg
This week, I want to clear the air about the Department
of Education's new policy ending the discredited practice
of social promotion—both what it means, and what
it doesn't mean, for the future of...
READ MORE
Grade Retention Policy
Demands Private Solid Planning & Ample Funding
by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
There is a lot more to education policy than "acting tough" and
spouting generalizations. How about focusing on exactly how
we will actually achieve the academic improvement we seek for... READ
MORE
The
High, The Mighty & The
Arrogant
by Jill Levy
The forced resignation of Diana Lam is several weeks old now,
but lessons can still be learned from the missteps of people
in power. Martha Stewart, the guru of good taste, was recently
convicted on... READ MORE
March 2004
A Kick in the Teeth
by Randi Weingarten, President, UFT
Mayor Bloomberg has said repeatedly that he wants voters
to judge him on how well he improves New York City’s
public schools. Research shows that the most important factor
in improving schools is having a qualified teacher in every
classroom, so it would seem logical for the Mayor to make
his first priority the recruitment and retention of good
teachers. . . READ
MORE
Chancellor
Concedes School HIV & AIDS Curriculum is in
Critical Condition
Assembly hearing highlights where education is truly a life
or death matter
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
Last month, as chairman of the Education Committee, I co-chaired
a public hearing to assess HIV and AIDS education in the city
schools, and testimony of Chancellor Joel Klein himself, as
well as of others, revealed that the curriculum is outdated
and not in compliance either with state or city regulations.
Similar gaps were identified in the broader curriculum known
as Family Living and Sex Education. .
READ
MORE
Gambling with Destiny: Rethinking NYS
Funding Priorities
by State Senator Liz Krueger
Over the past several months, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity
(CFE) and the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) have been
calling on the state legislature and Governor Pataki to provide
a $2 billion down payment in response to the state court of
appeals mandate that education funding inequities be remedied.
In response, the Governor has dedicated $325 million of revenues
generated from “video lottery terminals” to increase
education funds. In so doing, the Governor continues to disregard
the rights of our children. Banking on state sanctioned lottery
terminals to fund public education is yet another example of
misguided priorities and bad public policy. . READ
MORE
Whatever Happened to Childhood?
by Jill Levy
I thought I learned my lessons well in developmental psychology,
but apparently I’m wrong. That is the conclusion I must
draw based on the recent decision by corporate America to re-institute
a retention policy for NYC third graders. Although all research
proves that holding children back doesn’t work in the
long-run, and despite the fact that we tried it in New York
City and it failed, the newest managers of the NYC public schools
think that they can make it work. . READ
MORE
February 2004
A Budget Good for All New Yorkers
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
I recently presented the City's preliminary budget for
the next fiscal year. It's our $45.7 billion plan for funding
City services for the 12 months beginning July 1st. READ
MORE
Pataki
Budget Proposal "A Big Nothing"
for
City Schools
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The only thing good that one can say about Governor Pataki's
budget proposal for education is that it is not as bad as last
year's-although the Governor entirely ignores the Court... READ MORE
Bluffing and Boasting at City Hall
by Jill Levy, President, CSA
A number of criticisms about the performance of the reorganized
school system have been aired publicly of late. Yet, Chancellor
Klein is apparently impervious to comments and concerns from
dedicated professionals and citizens as he repeats his mantra
of the month, his pride in... READ
MORE
December 2003
"Bright
Lights, Big City"
by
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
All over town this fall, it's lights-camera-and action,
with more than 30 feature films and prime time television
programs in production in New York City. In fact, earlier
this month, the... READ
MORE
Give the Gift of Reading:
Reading Reform Begins at Home
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Susan
J. Moesker
In any given New York City classroom, when children sit at
desks with textbooks open, how many of them actually understand
the words printed on the page? READ
MORE
"Implementing" the
CFE Decision
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
When the State's highest court, the Court of Appeals, issued
its landmark ruling in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE)
case last June, the Legislature and Governor were... READ
MORE
November 2003
AP Program: Using Global Languages
to Advance Cultural Understanding
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo & Dr.
Lee Jones
There is no doubt that the children of the 21st century
are citizens of a global society. Almost all aspects of
their lives—the
economy, the environment they live in, the diverse array
of individuals...
READ
MORE
Tests are a Tool, Not an End
by State Senator Liz Krueger
Last year I created a high school civics education program
to encourage students to think critically about government
and politics. Through experiential learning and active participation,
they... READ
MORE
Where is the Promised Help for Principals?
by Jill Levy, President,
CSA
Our nation’s urban public schools are a mess. Of course,
not all are failing, and some are even models for the educational
process. But with the nation’s collective eye focused
on standardized... READ
MORE
NYC’s
4th Grade Math Results
Reflect Success of Early Childhood Initiatives
by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
The recently released figures reflecting an unprecedented
rise in 4th grade math scores is a direct reflection, at
least in part, of the success of the State Assembly’s... READ
MORE
October 2003
Celebrating
New York City’s
Rich Ethnic Diversity
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
No city on earth can match New York’s rich ethnic
diversity; we’re truly the world’s second home. READ
MORE
What’s Out There, & How
to Get It
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo and Karen T. Schlesinger
When school starts in September, parents and children focus
on the beginning of a new year: new classes, new teachers,
new classmates, new friends, new school outfits, sometimes
a new school. Hope is in the air, and the possibilities seem
boundless. READ
MORE
Move Over Assistant Principals?
by Jill Levy
Saturday, Sept. 6, was a remarkable day. The Council of School
Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) made a spectacular showing
in the Labor Day Parade as more than 200 members along with
family, friends, children and grandchildren marched up Fifth
Avenue.
READ
MORE
Mayor & Chancellor
Asked To Move On Healthy Schools
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The State Assembly over the past several years, working with
the Healthy Schools Network of New York State, has initiated
important measures to keep children safe in school. In the
area of violence prevention and physical security, New York
State has made great strides. READ
MORE
September 2003
Synopsis: The Advanced Placement Program for the Italian Language
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo
It was in April of 1987 that Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti
invited me to Rome to attend the first conference to promote
the Italian language in the United States of America. As
Governor of the State of New York, my husband, Mario Cuomo,
had established the international partnership program under
the Economic Development Corporation to further investments. READ
MORE
The 40th Anniversary of March on Washington
by Mayor Michael
R. Bloomberg
“The 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington is a wonderful
opportunity for all New Yorkers to look back on its significance
and on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and to appreciate
how they have fundamentally changed life in our City and our
Nation.
READ
MORE
The Case for Smaller Classes by Randi Weingarten, President,
United Federation of Teachers
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to stand on the steps
of City Hall with representatives of a broad coalition of parent
and community groups, labor unions, and elected officials,
including City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, Public Advocate
Betsy Gotbaum, and Assembly Member Steve Sanders, to announce
a major step forward in the campaign to improve our schools. READ
MORE
Assemblyman Hearings on High-Stakes Regents
Exam Set
by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
As Chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, I will be
chairing a set of public hearings on the subject of New York’s
high-stakes Regents exams. READ
MORE
August 2003
Driving
Crime Down and Revitalizing Neighborhoods Throughout The
City
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Good news has a way of building on itself; success breeds
success. Because New York City is the safest big city in
the nation, and because we’re both addressing our
short-term budget problems and going ahead with... READ
MORE
Mentoring
USA Enhances Self-Esteem Development for Immigrant Youth
by Matilda Cuomo & Preeti
Parasharami
Ana, an immigrant youth from the Dominican Republic, once said
to her mentor, “[By moving to the United States] I have
lost my sense of language, culture and self identity.” Ana,
who attends PS 20, speaks of the difficulty or ‘disconnect’ many
newly immigrated youth experience when attending city schools. READ
MORE
Hearings On High-Stakes Testing Planned
by Assemblyman Steven
Sanders
Later this fall, I will chair hearings on New York State’s
high-stakes Regents exams, the subject of much debate. All
too often, high standards, which the Regents and State Education
Commissioner Richard Mills are to be congratulated for developing,
are confused with high-stakes, Ado or die exams. READ
MORE
July 2003
Summer at Mentoring USA
by Matilda Raffa Cuomo and William
Baker
Summer is here, so it’s time to take a break? Not
really! At Mentoring USA (MUSA), we see summer as a perfect
time to strengthen some of the connections that the mentors
and mentees have established during the school year, while
working on establishing new agendas.
READ
MORE
End of School Letter to Parents
by Chancellor Joel I. Klein READ
MORE
A
New Day is Arriving For New York City’s Schools
by
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Recently state law finally giving New York City voters direct
control over our public schools went into effect. That ended
a school governance structure that was notorious for its
unresponsive bureaucracy, waste and endless red tape. READ
MORE
Victory
in CFE Case Should Bring Vast New Resources for City Schools
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The landmark ruling by the New York State Court of Appeals
in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case—in which the Court
held that New York State’s school aid formula unconstitutionally
denies New York City students a sound, basic education and
directed the Legislature to revamp the formula to redress the
injustice by July 2004—is a huge victory for New York
City students and a ringing defeat for Governor George Pataki. READ
MORE
June 2003
Fifteen
New Reading Resources In Arts, Language Arts, Science, & Social
Studies Added To “Free” Website READ
MORE
Your Neighborhood Parks Have A Lot To Offer
This Summer
by
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
With the warm weather months upon us, more and more New Yorkers
are getting out to our parks to enjoy ballgames, picnics, concerts
and other forms of recreation. In addition to great zoos and
botanical gardens, New York City has by far the largest system
of city parks in the nation, with more than 1,500 parks, beaches,
playgrounds and gardens covering more than 26,000 acres. And
we’re working hard to add to New York’s network
of parks in every borough, and to make our existing open spaces
even more beautiful and inviting. READ
MORE
Legislature Makes the Right Choice for Schools.
Veto Overrides Restore $1.1 Billion to Education
by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
Year after year, Governor Pataki has tried to slash education
spending, and year after year, the Assembly restores it. In
fact, prior to this year, the Assembly had successfully restored
$2.8 billion of the Governor’s education cuts. READ
MORE
May 2003
Need Help From City Government? Call 311
by Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg
Getting help from the City shouldn’t be a chore.
It should be as easy as picking up the phone and dialing
one number to get in touch with any service you need. READ
MORE
Public Education is not a Private Corporation
Bloomberg and Klein Must Accept Debate and Dialogue and Adhere
to State Law
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
In late April, I chaired an important oversight hearing of
the Assembly Education Committee to review how Chancellor Klein
and City Hall are doing now that the first school year under
the new governance system is drawing to a close. READ
MORE
New Beginnings for Disruptive Students
by Tom Kertes
Although school crime has decreased eight percent in 2002,
important issues of school safety remain. READ
MORE
April 2003
Keeping NYC Safe Is My First Priority
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Now that the war in Iraq is underway, I don’t think
it matters whether you favored or opposed launching the
effort to disarm Saddam Hussein. . . . READ
MORE
Fight over Pataki’s
Education Cuts Reaches Critical Stage in Albany Budget Negotiations
by
Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The fight over Gov. Pataki’s $1.4 billion cut in State
aid to public schools is reaching a very critical stage. .
. . READ
MORE
A Message from the Chancellor
by Joel Klein
The New York City Department of Education is fully committed
to ensuring that our public schools are places where students,
teachers and the entire school community are safe and secure.
. . . READ
MORE
National
Poetry Month: Student Poets . . . READ
MORE
March 2003
Holding Elected Officials To Their Campaign Promises
by Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg
When I ran for Mayor of New York City, I said that if there
was one principle I would try to bring to government, it
would be accountability. The idea that you can promise something
over and over again, then not do it and get away with it
is simply unfathomable. After spending more than a year in
office, I can say with some authority that a much higher
standard of accountability is desperately needed in government.
Elected officials should be held to their campaign promises,
and I want the people of New York City to start with me. READ
MORE
Recommendations Issued on New Councils to Replace Community
School Boards by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
Recently the 20-member Task Force on Community School District
Governance Reform submitted its recommendations to the Leg-islature
and the Governor on what should replace the community school
boards, which go out of business on June 30th. Along with Terri
Thomson, I had the honor of co-chairing the Task Force, whose
recommendations were developed after hearing over 50 hours
of testimony from nearly 300 witnesses at hearings held in
each borough in the past two months. READ
MORE
An Open Letter from Chancellor Joel Klein
Dear Community/Faith-Based Leader,
In October, I launched Children First: A New Agenda for Public
Schools in New York City, an initiative to reform the school
system. During the first phase of Children First, we received
input from approximately 50,000 parents, students, teachers,
principals, superintendents, community, business, higher education
and faith-based leaders.
READ
MORE
February 2003
New York City Is Still America’s
Safest Big City
by Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg
Public safety is City government’s most basic responsibility.
And despite unavoidable budget cuts, during 2002 we’ve
made New York an even safer place, by continuing dramatic
reductions in... READ
MORE
Assembly
Will Fight Governor’s Devastating $1.25B Cut
to Schools
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The devastating $1.25 billion cut to public education proposed
by Governor Pataki on January 29th (of which about $500 million
would come from aid to New York City schools) would be the
largest reduction to... READ
MORE
January 2003
New York City Is Doing Better With Less
by Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg
During the current fiscal crisis, City agencies can’t
afford to operate at anything less than top efficiency. Over
the last year, we’ve met that challenge. We’ve
reduced City... READ
MORE
Gay Rights Bill Ends On Bright Note
Focus Now on Renewed Push for Dignity for All Students Bill
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
In mid December, after ten years of no action by the State
Senate on “SONDA”—the Sexual Orientation
Non-discrimination Act, which I sponsored and saw passed in
the Assembly ten times, the State Senate finally allowed the
bill to come to a vote. The bill passed and was... READ
MORE
December 2002
New
York City’s Best
Days Are Still Ahead
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
The newspapers are full of doom and gloom these days. But
let’s
get one thing straight: New York remains the greatest City
in the world. It’s no secret City government faces
tough budget times. But that’s not keeping us from
going ahead... READ
MORE
Public’s
Turn to Have Say on School Board Reform
by Assemblyman Steven
Sanders
A very important part of the landmark New York City School
Governance Reform enacted into law earlier this year, will
be played out during the next few months. As the State Legislature
gave greater authority and accountability over our schools... READ
MORE
November 2002
Putting
Democracy in the People’s Hands
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
When I appointed a Commission to study changes to the City’s
Charter, I suggested they propose amending the line of
mayoral succession, so that the Deputy Mayor would serve
as Acting Mayor for a limited period of time if the Mayor
dies while in office or has to leave office prematurely...READ
MORE
October 2002
Mayor’s Management Report: Your City’s
Report Card
by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Where do you turn when you want to know what condition
your child’s school building is in, if the local
playground is in good repair or how clean the streets
in your neighborhood are... READ
MORE
CFE Case to Court of Appeals: Pataki Should Settle
by Assemblyman Steven Sanders
The Court of Appeals will soon hear oral arguments in the landmark
Campaign for School Equity case. Governor Pataki, regrettably,
appealed the decision by Justice DeGrasse, which held... READ
MORE
September 2001
Revolutionizing Our Schools
by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
It is well known that NYC has enjoyed a historic decline
in crime over the past seven years. Less well known is
that the principles behind this breakthrough can also be
applied to other areas, specifically to improving the quality
of our children’s
education. READ
MORE
Governor Must Come Through for Our Schools
by Assemblyman
Steven Sanders
On August 3, both houses of the Legislature adopted Governor
Pataki’s education funding proposal which increases State
dollars to school districts by $382 million as part of the
overall State budget.
READ
MORE
August 2001
Helping the Charter School Movement Fulfill
Its Promise
by
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Last October, I was very proud to announce that New York
City was taking the lead in encouraging the growth of charter
schools by instituting the first and most generous local
charter school grant fund in the nation. READ
MORE
July 2001
Public-Private
Partnerships Promote Children’s Health
by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Last year, I launched HealthStat, a comprehensive, citywide
initiative to provide uninsured New Yorkers with access to
existing heath insurance programs such as Medicaid and Child
Health Plus. READ
MORE
June 2001
Learning from Milwaukee: School Choice
by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
May 2001
Debunking Fears about Child
Health Plus at CB7
by Sybil Maimin
The greatest number of uninsured children live between West
166th Street and Dyckman Street in Washington Heights.
Yet free or low-cost health insurance, Child Health Plus,
is available to legal residents ages 0 through 19 via a
simple application form. Citizenship is not required. READ
MORE
Selling Buildings Helps City
by Mayor Rudy Giuliani
One of the keys to New York City’s success throughout
its history has been willingness to embrace change. As our
city begins a new century, it is appropriate that we look for
ways to ensure that New York remains vital and committed to
the pursuit of excellence. That is why we are taking steps
to upgrade facilities for the Board of Education.
READ
MORE
April 2001
Youth and Education Committee: Community Board 8
by Sybil Maimin