The Brian Lehrer Show Extending Mayoral Control of the Schools?
Mar 30, 2026
Carmen Fariña, former NYC Schools Chancellor and longtime educator, advocates for extending mayoral control and a coherent curriculum. She discusses why unified leadership helps amid disorganization. Talks include stakeholder advisory councils, curriculum consistency, reading instruction debates, equity and middle school focus, and political concerns around accountability.
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Require An Educator As Chancellor
- Require the chancellor to be an educator to ensure instructional credibility and smoother execution.
- Fariña insists no exemptions and says mayor and chancellor must coordinate budgeting, curriculum, and resource alignment.
Include Stakeholder Councils While Keeping Mayoral Accountability
- Create advisory councils of parents and educational leaders to include stakeholders while retaining mayoral accountability.
- Fariña says monthly meetings with PEP and CEC leaders helped anticipate issues and foster cross-district visits.
Deputy Chancellor Remembers Curriculum Push That Raised NAEP Scores
- Fariña recounts her role as deputy chancellor overseeing curriculum during early Bloomberg years when reading scores rose.
- She links curriculum coherence, superintendent changes, and accountability to the NAEP gains in the 2000s.