During the 2002 and 2003 sessions the New York State Legislature approved two laws that significantly restructured the governance of the New York City School District. The first law, Chapter 91 of the Laws of 2002, gave the Mayor and Chancellor greater control over the school district which has produced a sweeping overhaul of the management and supervisory structure of New York City public school system.

The second law, Chapter 123 of the Laws of 2003, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Task Force on Community School District Governance Reform, replaced community school boards with parent oriented community district education councils. This plan also requires the Chancellor to develop a process for parent associations and parent-teacher associations to elect most of the members of the community district education councils. Also, a city-wide council on special education was created for which the Chancellor must develop a representative selection process. This plan for community district education councils and the replacement of community school boards with district education councils must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) for preclearance under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Assembly Standing Committee on Education will hear testimony to assess and review the legislation that was approved by the State Legislature in 2002 and 2003. In particular, it will focus on New York City's progress in developing an election process for district education council members. The hearing will also examine the city education officials' plan to gain USDOJ approval of the election process and the replacement of community school boards while meeting key implementation dates included in Chapter 123 of the Laws of 2002. The Committee on Education will also continue to review other aspects of the overall reorganization plan and changes implemented by the Mayor and the Chancellor, including the adoption of a city-wide curriculum that is to be effective in the 2003-2004 school year.

Persons invited to testify, or who plan to attend, should complete and return the attached reply form.

SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN TESTIMONY

Written testimony will also be accepted for those who are not invited by the Committee to present oral testimony at the hearing. A copy of the written testimony may be mailed to the Assembly Standing Committee on Education, 250 Broadway, Room 2234, New York, NY 10007 or faxed to (212) 312-1479. If you also plan to attend the hearing, please complete the attached reply form accordingly. Please be advised that building policies require visitors to present photo identification in order to be admitted to the building.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Assemblyman Steven Sanders
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Education

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony or are planning on attending the September 12, 2003 hearing on the implementation of school governance legislation and the continued review of the Mayor and Chancellor's overall reorganization plan are requested to fully complete and return this form as soon as possible and mail or fax it to:

Courtney Hayden
Legislative Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Education
Room 513 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
E-Mail: haydenc@assembly.state.ny.us
(518) 455- 4881
Fax: (518) 455- 4128

(By invitation only) I plan to testify at the public hearing on implementation of school governance legislation and the continued review of the Mayor and Chancellor's overall reorganization plan to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Education on September 12, 2003. I will provide 20 copies of my prepared statement.

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: