Educators and Advocates Celebrate Mayoral Control Extension, Urge Extension of Class Size Mandate by End of Session

Evan Stone, Co-Founder and CEO of Educators for Excellence, issued the following statement in response to the finalization of New York’s 2027 State Budget:

“The recently announced New York state budget features major wins worth celebrating, such as the extension of mayoral control for another two years. While educators pushed for a longer, four-year extension, preserving mayoral control helps ensure that New York City can continue to drive coherence, accountability, and equity across a school system serving nearly one million students.

“We also applaud the governor and legislature for increasing investments in education, particularly for students in temporary housing and English language learners, and passing legislation to strengthen protections that help keep immigration enforcement out of schools and uphold the universal right to education. Every child, regardless of immigration status, deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe, supported, and able to thrive. 

“At the same time, the work of building a more equitable school system is far from finished. Changes to New York’s class size mandate are still up in the air. While we know more substantive changes are warranted in the future, to address the law’s glaring lack of equity, sustainability, and flexibility, the absolute bare minimum requirement for lawmakers is to extend the compliance timeline. Without a timely extension, New York City will be forced into unnecessary uncertainty and financial risk that jeopardizes other important investments, such as permanent baseline funding for NYC Reads and NYC Solves in the city’s budget.”

Simone Gordon, a Brooklyn elementary school educator, issued the following statement: 

“I’m encouraged that mayoral control was extended and was proud to join other educators in calling for it to continue. At the same time, there are still serious flaws in the state’s class-size mandate. Under its current structure, this mandate directs limited city resources toward students and schools with the least need. It’s the opposite of equity. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, New York should pursue a needs-based system that invests limited resources where they will have the greatest impact for students.”

Teresa Ranieri, a literacy coach in the Bronx, issued the following statement:

“Now that the state budget is finalized, the city must do its part. Educators have been vocal about the need to sustain and strengthen NYC Reads and NYC Solves, but that cannot happen without permanent funding in the city budget. Right now, these long-term citywide initiatives still rely heavily on temporary funding streams and philanthropy. If New York City is serious about expanding these initiatives and implementing them well across more grade levels, the City Council must build on the state’s budget announcement and commit to $200 million in baseline funding for NYC Reads and NYC Solves in its own budget.”

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About Educators for Excellence-New York (E4E-NY)

Educators for Excellence-New York is a teacher-led organization with more than 18,000 members across NYC, working to ensure educators’ voices are at the center of the policies that impact their classrooms, profession, and students.