New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools (RJPS) welcomes Council Member Eric Dinowitz, a former special education teacher and UFT chapter leader in the Bronx, as Chair of the New York City Council’s Education Committee. As a broad-based coalition of students, parents, educators, and community leaders committed to education justice, we are hopeful that Chair Dinowitz will continue and strengthen the culture of collaboration and transparency established under former Chair Rita Joseph. 

At a moment of significant transformation in public education under the Mamdani administration, combined with ongoing and renewed attacks from the Trump administration, New York City’s public schools require decisive, values-driven leadership from the City Council. As a system that serves a majority of low-income students and students of color, the Education Committee must be led by a Chair who clearly commits to protecting the most vulnerable, particularly immigrant students, low-income students, and trans and gender-expansive youth.

For the past four years, RJPS and allied advocates have collaborated closely with Chair Joseph, the Education Committee, and the Speaker’s Office to resist austerity measures and the weakening of policies focused on equity. Moving ahead, it is vital that the Chair of the Education Committee provides leadership that is grounded in the principles of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE). This leadership must be inclusive, collaborative, and innovative; it must prioritize community input, champion racial justice, and protect the future of New York City’s public schools.

Recommendations for Leadership of Education Chair  

• Commit to advocating for the RJPS Policy Roadmap: Beyond the Moment
• Collaboration: Continue monthly advocates meetings to protect critical funding for programs, navigate attacks from the federal government, and to conduct oversight on DOE. These meetings included the Speaker’s office as well as the finance team.
  • We are asking for an expansion of these meetings to include other members of the education committee.
• Communication/Access: Engage consistently with local community leaders to get insights on what is happening in local schools to inform advocacy and legislation. This includes visiting schools, engaging local CBO’s, participating in CEC meetings and other governance structures.