Research


Administrative History

The New York School-Community Interaction Umbrella Program evolved from Title III of ESEA, which was enacted in 1968 to fund innovative and imaginative solutions to educational problems. From 1968 to 1971, the program was funded by federal Title III funds. Beginning in July 1971, the New York State Legislature assumed funding of the program (under a specific budget appropriation), and the program was administered by the Division of Urban Education of the New York State Education Department.

The umbrella program was divided into topical focuses, or "umbrellas". These focuses included curriculum and teacher growth, student guidance, basic skills and English as a Second Language, and communications between schools and their surrounding communities. Each umbrella was controlled by an "umbrella board" consisting of professional staff and community representatives from each of the component projects of the umbrella program. Each component project was related to the umbrella topic, and was sponsored by a public school or school district, as well as a community agency.

An SED audit of the program from 1972-1973 found the Umbrella program to be ineffective and hampered by a lack of guidance and oversight from city and state education authorities. Beginning in the school year 1974-1975, administrative control of the various umbrella programs was centralized under the Division of Community School Affairs of the New York City Board of Education.