Interesting article on the leadership dynamics of the New York City Department of Education by David Herszenhorn:
“Parents and parent organizations feel less enfranchised now than they did four years ago, and that is a dangerous trend,” Mr. Sanders said. He added, “Ultimately you cannot have a successful education system if parents and communities of parents don’t feel invested.”
Stephen Morello, Mr. Klein’s communications director, issued a statement saying parent involvement “has been an important priority from the beginning of our reform efforts.”
This quote reminds me of the process used to create and implement West’s English Curriculum Reduction Plan and the Non-academic Middle School Model. Just substitute those for Lobby Day:
“There is no consultation prior to Lobby Day of what parents want,” said Juan de la Cruz, a member of the council who has two children in Queens high schools. “It’s always their agenda, and we’re just there for bodies.”