Mayoral control of schools

Mayoral control of schools is governance over American schools based on the business model, in which the mayor of a city replaces an elected board of education (school board) with an appointed board. The mayor may also directly appoint the head of the school system, called the CEO, superintendent or chancellor.[1] Also known as integrated governance, mayoral control of schools is in contrast to the structure it replaces: an elected board that governs schools independently from the formal influence of the mayor.[2]

Mayors govern the school districts in two of the United States' three largest cities: Chicago (since 1995) and New York City (since 2002). Mayors also control various other medium-to-large districts as well, including District of Columbia Public Schools. According to a survey of school board members compiled for the National School Board Association, 96 percent of respondents report that membership on their board is determined by election.[3] As of October 2011, evidence of existing or attempted mayoral control was found in about 20 major districts around the United States.[4] Perhaps the most high-profile case of mayoral control is New York City where Michael Bloomberg won the right to appoint the head of schools in June 2002.[5]

Despite limited reach, there are a plethora of mayoral controlled governance structures. In Chicago, the mayor appoints the CEO (superintendent) as well as the entire school board. In Washington, DC, the mayor has power to directly select the chancellor, who must be confirmed by the city council. All D.C. state board of education members are elected but the state board of education acts in a largely advisory capacity to the district education agency.[6] New York’s mayor also has the power to select the head of schools, in addition to appointing eight of thirteen school board members. In Boston, the mayor’s powers extend only to appointing a committee from a list of nominees. It is this appointed board that is entrusted with the job of selecting a superintendent of schools.[7]

  1. ^ Resmovits, Joy (August 16, 2010). "Taking Schools Into Their Own Hands". Wall Street Journal.
  2. ^ Wong, Kenneth K., et al. The Education Mayor: Improving America's Schools. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2007. Print.
  3. ^ Hess, Frederick M., "School Boards at the Dawn of the 21st Century: Conditions and Challenges of District Governance." Alexandria, VA: National School Boards Association, 2002.
  4. ^ Education Commission of the States. "Local School Boards". Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Goodnough, Abby (September 4, 2002). "Justice Dept. Allows a Shift in School Powers". New York Times.
  6. ^ "Management Principles and the Washington DC Public Schools". Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Viteritti, Joseph P., ed. When Mayors Take Charge: School Governance in the City. Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 2009.