Debate Over Mayoral Control of NYC Schools

For over two decades, New York City schools have functioned on the principle that one individual should lead, and thus be accountable for the system.

Now, Zoran Mamdani, currently leading the race for mayor, has different ideas about this structure.

Mayoral control has often been likened to effective organizational management, especially when there’s clear direction.

With a single person overseeing something as extensive as the city’s Department of Education, which serves 815,000 students across 1,600 schools, decisions can be made swiftly, reforms can be properly assessed, and the public has a clear figure to hold accountable when challenges arise.

When Mayor Mike Bloomberg initially persuaded the state Legislature to implement mayoral control back in 2002, he aimed to eliminate the disorder stemming from 32 local school boards. This move granted one leader the authority, duty, and accountability to manage the largest school system in the country.

This strategy is similar to those found in some of the world’s top-performing education systems, like Singapore.

Under Mayor Eric Adams, this form of governance has enabled swift reforms, including a comprehensive citywide literacy initiative.

In 2023, he introduced NYC Reads, mandating that all elementary schools utilize one of three evidence-based reading programs.

This initiative reached almost all of the 500,000 elementary students within just two years.

In contrast, Los Angeles, which is the second-largest electoral district in the U.S. and doesn’t have mayoral control, started pushing for a shift to science-based reading as early as 2022. However, three years later, only half of its schools have embraced it.

During the current mayoral administration, New York City’s graduation rates have surged from 53% in 2003 to an impressive 83% in 2024, marking one of the most notable increases in the country.

Two decades ago, merely one in five students in New York City met reading proficiency standards according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Presently, that figure is nearing one in three, showing steady growth and beginning to close the gap with national averages.

Previously, New York City’s eighth-graders lagged 12 points behind the state average in reading. By 2015, that gap had lessened, and by 2019, the city had pulled ahead—an achievement it still maintains today.

Significantly, Black and Hispanic students have made the largest strides, surpassing statewide averages for the first time.

New York City’s performance currently eclipses that of other major school districts, like Houston, which has faced leadership issues, leading to the replacement of its elected school board with a state-appointed one in 2023.

Mamdani, however, poses a challenge to this successful narrative.

During a recent debate, he expressed support for “mayoral accountability,” which seems contradictory. Without a clear figurehead, accountability can become elusive.

While he champions accountability, it’s perplexing that he opposes the system that facilitates it. He advocates for “co-governance” of schools, which suggests a nebulous sharing of power among mayors, parents, and community organizations.

This approach could lead to a situation where failures are not owned by anyone. It’s likely that the politically powerful United Federation of Teachers would dominate this structure.

New York City has already tested this model before—and it didn’t succeed.

Moreover, Mamdani’s vision for education lacks clarity. The ideas he has put forth, such as enhancing restorative justice, eliminating gifted programs, and halting the expansion of charter schools, don’t seem to resonate with the need for tangible results. They often stem more from ideology than from practical evidence.

Enrollment in the city’s schools has already declined by over 100,000 students since 2019, reflecting a growing disillusionment among families.

The core issue isn’t mayoral control itself; rather, it’s about how it’s implemented. The solution shouldn’t be to discard it but to leverage it more effectively.

We’ve witnessed the pitfalls that arise when authority is misused in pursuit of ideology over evidence.

For instance, under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration, almost $100 million was allocated to initiatives aimed at enhancing school safety and inclusivity, yet instead of improvements, classrooms experienced disruption, forcing educators to grapple with a lack of discipline.

When expectations aren’t enforced, chaos can take hold.

It’s clear that New York still has significant strides to make.

After 20 years of evident progress—including higher graduation rates and better reading skills—the city has no room to hesitate. It doesn’t need a new experiment.

What it requires is a leader willing to take charge, embrace responsibility, and drive results.

Accountability has been pivotal in New York’s educational journey, and Mamdani’s approach risks undermining that foundation.