Research

• Full Finding Aid
• Overview
• Arrangement
• Administrative History
• Scope and Contents
• Related Material
• Other Finding Aids
• Access Restrictions
• Access Terms
• Detailed Description
• subseries 1
• subseries 2
• subseries 3

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Detailed Description

Subseries 1: General file

Scope and Content Note:

This subseries contains records relating to the development of policy and legislation relating to New York City school decentralization. Included are files on competing plans for decentralization, containing reports, correspondence, clippings, timelines and other materials. Among these are the original plan developed by Mayor's Advisory Panel on Decentralization of the New York City Schools, known as the "Bundy plan, as well as responses and commentary from various educational interest groups. Also included are modifications made in Bundy plan recommendations made by Mayor John Lindsay's office, and responding plans from the United Federation of Teachers, the Citizens Union of the City of New York, the Public Education Association, the New York State Senate (bill introduced by Sen. John J. Marchi), the Association of Assistant Principals, and the United Parents Associations of New York City. Furthermore, there are reports, completed prior to 1967, related to issues in New York City educational system, including desegregation, curricula, teacher compensation and unionization, and an extended school year. Also included are files documenting the progress of decentralization. These include copies of an interim decentralization plan, completed in October 15, 1968, as well as correspondence and reports from organizations evaluating and advocating for or against decentralization, including Metropolitan Applied Research Center, Inc., New York State Teachers Association, NYS School Boards Association, Confederation of Local School Boards of New York City, Institute for Educational Development, Citizens Committee for Public Schools. Furthermore, there are records documenting the demonstration school districts in Harlem, Ocean Hill-Brownsville, and Two Bridges, including correspondence, bulletins from districts, and clippings detailing controversies within districts.

Arrangement:

Arranged by numerical scheme developed by office staff. Numerical scheme used to organize records is shown in first folder of this subseries.

  

Subseries 2: Binders

Scope and Content Note:

This subseries consists of four sequential binders maintained by Norman D. Kurland that document the decentralization process in New York City. Binders are numbered in roughly chronological order. The binders mostly contain copies of proposed plans for decentralization, as well as state legislation governing the decentralization process. Also included are copies of selected memoranda and reports.

Arrangement:

Binders were numbered by Kurland. Arranged by number.

  

Subseries 3: Miscellaneous files

Scope and Content Note:

This subseries includes some unfiled records apparently intended for the General File, as well as post-1969 records relating to decentralization. These post-1969 records include a dissertation by Eileen Elizabeth Byrne for Ph.D. Fordham University School of Education on "Community Participation After Decentralization in One New York City School District, 1970-1977." Also present are reports on the relationship between NYSED and NYC school system going into 1970's, and proposals for further school decentralization and streamlining of central bureaucracy, including the recommendation of the abolishment of the NYC Board of Education and Chancellor in favor of a single administrator

Arrangement:

No apparent organizational scheme.