A watchdog's unflattering analysis of Bloomberg's education record
Briefing: Bloomberg. Azi Paybarah via flickr
8:25 am Jul. 13, 2012
The New York City Independent Budget Office is challenging the Bloomberg administration's claims of improved performance by city students on New York State's standardized tests, concluding from test scores that only 30 percent of the students showed improvement between third and sixth grades.
The key here is the I.B.O.'s methodology. Instead of comparing the scores of this year's third graders to those of last year's third graders, the office tracked the scores of specific students over three years.
The administration points out that the test data isn't designed to be analyzed this way. The I.B.O. concedes the point, but says the findings provide useful context for the administration's claims of widespread improvement.
The I.B.O. report will be seized on by opponents of the mayor's education policies, who hope his successor will pursue a very different agenda on schools. But his would-be successors are not likely to roll back the single biggest change in the governance of education during Bloomberg's tenure: mayoral control.
Events
Andrew Cuomo is in New York City and has no public schedule.
1 p.m. Council Speaker Christine Quinn will speak at the Smart Power New York press conference, on the steps of City Hall.
5:30 p.m. State Senator Michael Gianaris and Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas are among the featured guests at the Arab American Cultural Celebration at the Museum of Moving Images, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria. [Facebook]
Quote
Hazel Dukes: "People shouldn't be overpowered with regulations and restrictions that the government deems best for them." [Harlem News Group, pg 6]
2012
Obama, Romney "and their allies spend their time and energy relitigating old fights rather than focusing on new ideas for the next four years." [Peter Baker]
Two of the country's largest teachers unions have spent millions of dollars on "political campaigns, lobbying and issue education." [Alicia Mundy]
2013
Two councilmen vying to become comptroller next year, Dan Garodnick and Domenic Recchia, are among the richest members of the Council. [Sally Goldenberg and David Seifman]
Albany
The dispute between Andrew Cuomo and Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino that's holding up the rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge is about the definition of rapid bus service, something that can be worked out later. [Nicole Gelinas]
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said employers who bilk workers out of money could face criminal charges and possibly jail time. [Juan Gonzalez]
Schneiderman is one of the top 50 politicos to watch, and is a "national hero on the left." [Politico]
Con Ed gave $250,000 to the Committee to Save New York, a pro-Cuomo lobbying organization. Now, some labor groups are asking Cuomo to pressure Con Ed to end the lockout of Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America. [Jacob Gershman]
City Hall
In a violation of state law, unpaid members of policy-making boards in New York City aren't submitting financial disclosure statements. [Howard Michael Saul]
A report from the Independent Budget Office casst doubt of Bloomberg's claims that his reforms have boosted educational performances among students. [Ben Chapman]
A taxi fare hike was approved and will go into effect in September. [Dan MacLeod]
City Council
Councilwoman Gale Brewer will oversee an August 8 hearing about why the New York City Board of Elections had trouble counting votes after last month's NY-13 Democratic primary. [Michael Howard Saul]
Quinn said the board's vote-counting problems "threatens the credibility of the democratic process." [David Seifman]
The hearing will be held one month before the legislative primaries. [Aaron Edwards]
NYPD
Responding to her statement to Capital yesterday, a conservative tabloid newspaper said its easy for Quinn to say she and others "care" about ending gun violence and it's quite another to actually do something about it. [New York Post]
Media
The cover of Bloomberg Businesweek is controversial, and that's the point. [Oliver Burkeman]
From Capital
Obama has a financial advantage over Romney, if you don't count the biggest spenders of all. [Reid Pillifant]
Nan Hayworth went with a bio piece in her first ad, leaving the Obamacare issue for another day. [Reid Pillifant]
The taxi fare hike is a big win for drivers. [Dana Rubinstein]
Cuomo's plans for high-speed rail service in New York don't look so ambitious. [Dana Rubinstein]
The straight owner of a gay bar is trying to run to the left of Brad Hoylman, the Democratic establishment's preferred candidate to replace State Senator Tom Duane. [Azi Paybarah]
Quinn said she, Ray Kelly and police critics are "united in horror" at the uptick in shootings throughout New York City. [Azi Paybarah]
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