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Education New York City has the largest and most diverse public school system in the country, serving more than one million students from scores of countries and speaking over 140 languages. New York can be proud of having some of the nation’s best public schools and the most dedicated, qualified professional staff. Nevertheless, student performance in far too many schools is lagging. In some elementary schools, less than one quarter of the students read at grade level. Fewer than half of high school students graduate within four years. High student-to-teacher ratios, severely overcrowded school buildings, nonexistent libraries and antiquated science labs are among the significant hindrances to student achievement. Administrative restructurings and new State and federal academic achievement standards have not turned the situation around. The Office of Policy Management researches, investigates and develops policy recommendations on key public education concerns in New York City, ranging from the effectiveness of after school tutoring services to how the recent opening of numerous small high schools has impacted the students who continue to attend one of the remaining large traditional high schools. The Office of Policy Management monitors implementation of the court ruling in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, which requires New York City to receive a fairer share of State education aid, and continually assesses the impact of the 1994 law that gave the Mayor direct control of the school system. Mayoral control created new opportunities but also has raised concerns about public accountability and accessibility. OPM reports, investigations, and policy briefs share one goal: to help advance the efforts to make every New York City public school a true “school of excellence.”
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