NYC Families and Educators for Responsive Instruction:
A Coalition to End Mandated Curriculum in NYC Public Schools
The Issue
New York City Public Schools (NYCPS- formerly the NYC Department of Education) is currently phasing-in various new mandates for privately developed curricula across all subjects. These mandates have been enacted without evidence of their effectiveness or appropriateness for our students, and educators have not been adequately consulted or surveyed about their experiences using them. The Panel for Educational Policy (PEP, NYC’s equivalent of a school board) has approved contracts totaling many millions of dollars to purchase these curricula, their associated materials, and proprietary professional development. We believe that ALL children have the right to learn how to read, make meaning of, and be active citizens of the world. However, these scripted, corporate curricula are NOT the best way to support students' development, and in fact, will do more harm than good for our public school students' literacy and mathematical development.
We Propose:
A student —and community— first approach to school improvement. Our school communities are unique contexts, with unique strengths and areas of need. How can we best apply educational research principles and the knowledge of our communities toward shared goals of improved educational experiences for all NYC students?
Curricular choices informed by teachers, principals, and communities. Academic research suggests that the most effective curricula are those that are responsive to each student's unique strengths and needs.
Investing in long-term, ongoing professional development for educators. Instead of spending millions of dollars on questionable new curricular products, we must ensure that educators and administrators are fully grounded in research and understand how various curricula and approaches support (or undermine) literacy and mathematical development. A primary focus on curriculum ignores the importance of building professional knowledge, enabling teachers to be reflective and critical practitioners.
Join us in asking the Mayor and Chancellor to halt these mandates.
