CUNY & BOE Chancellors Propose K-16 System
By Sybil Maimin

Appearing together to tout a K-16 system that would blend their respective institutions, New York City Schools Chancellor Harold Levy and CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein spoke of the mutual advantages of a partnership. The University has the strength to help public school teachers and students, and the schools are a natural feeding ground for the University. In the College Now program which is currently in 150 high schools but will eventually reach 45,000 students in 230 schools, students are prepared for college admissions tests and the realities of higher education. Participants do better and graduate from college in greater numbers than non-participants. In the Teachers Opportunity Program, individuals who feel a calling to teach but do not have proper education credits are offered an alternative certification program at CUNY. This year, 1300 people, including accountants, doctors, and lawyers, were certified. CUNY offers professional development to upgrade instruction, and the all-important administrative and management skills needed by principals and others in school leadership positions.

Most of CUNY’s 400,000 students are from the broad spectrum that is New York City, and many city teachers are CUNY graduates. Determined to build distinguished academic programs that attract top city students, last year CUNY launched its first ever Honors College, which attracted 1600 applicants, most with SATs over 1300. Two hundred and fourteen were admitted; with support from major foundations, future numbers will be larger. Overall admission standards have been raised. Management is being improved with a performance-based system for all executives, and greater efforts are being made to gain alumni support so that the university can fulfill its revolutionary goal of self-generating 50 percent of the funds in its budget.

Citing the “natural alliance” between the Board of Education and CUNY, Chancellor Levy stressed the need for better recruitment and professional development so that instructional standards are upgraded and the best CUNY graduates become teachers in New York public schools. “The budget is not pretty throughout the city,” explained Chancellor Levy, “but children must be educated and we will make do with limited resources.”

The chancellors’ joint appearance was before the Board of the New York Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, which presented $50,000 from its 9/11 Fund to the Board of Education’s Twin Towers Fund. In accepting the gift, Chancellor Levy noted that the school system “had been through a lot,” and “the contribution is recognition of the work critical to the city that has to be done.” #

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