United Federation of Teachers President Mike Mulgrew is facing accusations of attempting to deflect responsibility for a significant drop in public school reading scores by criticizing the Department of Education's (DOE) administration of the literacy curriculum. The new NYC Reads initiative, which began phasing in under Mayor Eric Adams, has been a target of Mulgrew's complaints, with him calling for clearer instructional plans, streamlined school operations, and reduced paperwork and assessments.
These remarks come as students in grades 3-8 experienced a 6% decrease in English scores compared to the previous year, with over half of students in grades 3 to 5 deemed not proficient. Critics suggest Mulgrew's statements represent a "not our fault" strategy by the union leadership.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani's approach to public schools has also been a point of contention, with critics arguing that his administration has not adequately addressed issues such as teacher accountability and the performance of underperforming educators, which they believe are issues exacerbated by the UFT's influence.
Mulgrew's call to reduce "unnecessary assessments" is viewed by some as an attempt by the union to avoid standardized tests that reveal student learning outcomes. The DOE has also been criticized for delaying the release of data on charter school performance on the same exams.
In contrast, the Success Academy network reported that 91% of its students achieved proficiency in English and 96% in math. This performance, along with similar results from other charter schools, is seen as highlighting a disparity between charter and DOE schools, contributing to the charter sector's growing enrollment while DOE school rolls decline.
Mulgrew has stated that the UFT will not support the literacy curriculum if it is implemented in the same manner as the previous school year. The DOE, however, has denied making changes or introducing new requirements for teachers. The UFT's stance on supporting literacy instruction has been questioned, with some suggesting that current test scores indicate a failure in this area.
Further contributing to the debate is the delayed start of DOE classes on September 10th, attributed to a contract negotiated by Mulgrew that allows teachers two prep days after Labor Day. This contrasts with the practice under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, where educators returned before the holiday for preparation. Many charter schools, including Success Academy, have already resumed classes, emphasizing the importance of maximizing learning time for students.
Mulgrew and the UFT are compensated with salaries, with teachers receiving the summer off, and are expected to produce positive academic results. The article suggests that Mulgrew should focus on improving student outcomes rather than criticizing the DOE's curriculum administration.