In addition to its role as the New York City's legislative body, the city council works with the Mayor to develop and approve the city’s annual budget. Unfortunately city schools are contending with a third straight year of budget cuts.
To ensure that the budget that is passed reflects New Yorkers’ needs and priorities, the council members conduct a review of all city agencies, the policies, the programs and the expenses. The Council says it wants to ensure that the process is as transparent and accountable as possible.
Since funding is going to be even less this year, some principals have resorted to adopting teacher roles, just to make up for their loss of funding. But it was budget cuts, not their love teaching, that pushed these top school administrators back into the classroom.
Meanwhile, a handful of NYC teachers plan to return early from summer break to offer review sessions, and others will volunteer their time to grade exams.