Research


Scope and Content Note

This series consists almost entirely of case files of appeals to the chief state school administrative officer (Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1854-1904, Commissioner of Education, 1904-present) by persons contesting the official actions of local school officials, school district meetings, or county treasurers.

Typical subject matter of judicial decisions by the Superintendent of Public Instruction during the 19th century include school district trustees and boards of education; district meetings and elections; assessment and taxation of real property; expenditure of district funds; punishment and suspension of pupils; organization and dissolution of school districts; alteration of school districts (boundary alteration, annexation, or consolidation); selection and purchase of schoolhouse sites; construction and repair of schoolhouses; use of school property for religious exercises and other purposes; teacher examination and certification; and teacher contracts.

Typical subjects of 20th century decisions by the Commissioner of Education include district trustees and powers and duties of boards of education; New York City Board of Examiners (which formerly licensed teachers); school district boundaries; school district annual and special meetings; school district budgets; school buildings and sites; central school districts (establishment, annexation, etc.); city school districts (including New York City); teacher examination and certification; state financial aid; assessment and taxation; and contracts for goods or services (including pupil transportation).

Other subjects of appeals to the Commissioner of Education include eligibility of voters at school district meetings; the election, removal, or official acts of local school officials; validity of students' diplomas; removal of teachers and school principals; procedures in appeals; tuition charges; education of handicapped students; and racial imbalance in schools.

Each case file contains all or some of the following documents, which correspond to the various stages of the appeals process: the initial appeal from the petitioner; the answer from the respondent; replies from the petitioner, which may be optional or requested by the Commissioner; a rejoinder to the reply from the respondent, which also may be either optional or requested by the Commissioner; affidavits of service, affirming that the above documents have been given to the opposing party; copy of decision (beginning 1892); briefs submitted by either party or by amicus curiae; affidavits submitted in support of case; exhibits submitted in support of case, such as contract specifications, photographs of school facilities, school district maps, and licensing examinations and review papers; correspondence relating to submission of papers and requests for filing date extensions; notes taken during oral argument of the case; memorandums indicating who drafted the decision; drafts of the decision; and summary sheets giving the names of parties, attorneys, local superintendent of schools, dates of argument, and due dates of pleadings and briefs. Files from more recent appeals tend to contain more types of these materials.

Between circa 1933 and 1964 the series contains occasional appeals to and determinations by the Board of Regents for decisions of the Motion Picture Division. Each of these decisions typically contain the appeal of motion picture distributor from determination of the MPD; answer of respondent (Director of MPD); Chancellor's designation of Regents as a committee to review film and prepare report; report and decision of Regent's committee (also draft); final determination of appeal (signed by Chancellor); and correspondence (incoming/outgoing).