Carnegie Reporter, Vol. 2, No. 2 | Forum With New York City Schools Chancellor Joel Klein (low bandwidth)

More than three decades after New York City decentralized its massive school system and reduced mayoral authority over the schools, a landmark decision by the state legislature gave control of the nation’s largest school system back to its current mayor—Michael Bloomberg. In October 2002, newly appointed Chancellor of Schools Joel Klein joined Carnegie Corporation staff members, academic and policy leaders, foundation colleagues and journalists at this pivotal moment for a Carnegie Forum, which focused on the future of the New York City school system.

In his opening remarks, Klein shared his vision and plans for the development of the city’s public schools over the next few years. “We need major systemic change,” he said. “I don’t think the incrementalist approach is right for the challenge we have…. Don’t think I don’t know how difficult it is to bring about significant change.”

Klein praised the six-person team he recently appointed—which includes Diana Lam, former superintendent of the Providence schools, as deputy chancellor for teaching and learning; Michele Cahill, former senior program officer in Carnegie Corporation’s Education Division, as senior counselor for education policy; and Caroline Kennedy, who will be running the newly established Office of Strategic Partnerships—asserting that assembling a team of top-notch aides was of the utmost importance.

With the help of his colleagues, Klein plans to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the New York City school system that will map strategies for improving its 1,300 schools. He has commissioned a study, called Children First: A New Agenda for Public Education in New York City, to examine “every function of the school system, including teaching and learning, finance and operations, organizational structure and community involvement.” Klein has also enlisted the assistance of several outside organizations for the project, including the Broad Foundation, a nonprofit group in Los Angeles that works on urban education issues, and McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm that has conducted a number of studies for the school system. He will seek input from a wide range of other constituencies, including parents, community groups, teachers and the business world.

Klein acknowledged that keeping an eye on school reform during the planning stage “is a little like watching the grass grow.” But he urged patience, promising, “If you give me some time, I will turn around the biggest school system in the country.”