Issue: Transparency & Public Participation

 

Issue Overview | Critical Questions | Resources 

 

Overview 

A public school system that operates in secret invites misconduct and mistrust.  The public’s trust lies in a school district’s willingness to answer for its performance, its decisions and its mistakes.  Transparency—or openness—ensures the integrity of our educational accountability systems and the equal and equitable access to public education. When public school systems embrace transparency, they encourage integrity in official conduct, prevent undisclosed and undue influence from special interests and are better able to build trusting relationships with the public.

 

 

Critical Questions

 

Public Records Access

• Do district public records access policies and practices comply with the NYS Freedom of Information Act?
• Does the district take advantage of technology to share information requested by the public and reduce the costs of managing public requests for information?
• Does the district provide frequently requested documents and other key information on the district web site?

Public Meetings

• Do all Board of Education business and committee meetings comply with the NYS Open Meeting Law? Do all school-based planning team and district decision-making committees comply with the NYS Open Meeting Law?
• Are “special” or emergency meetings convened only when allowed by law? Are executive sessions convened only when allowed by law? Does all voting happen in public?

Reporting of Student Achievement

• Is the public sufficiently notified of the academic progress or failure of Rochester’s schools? Does the district comply with state and federal public academic achievement reporting requirements?

Collective Bargaining

• Who represents the interests of the children and taxpayers at the collective bargaining table and in management’s enforcement of its contracts?

Democratic Process in Schools

• Are the interests of all stakeholders—parents, teachers, administrators—represented by duly elected leaders? Are representatives accountable to their constituents?
• What district resources are available to parents working to organize and elect leaders? What barriers do parents encounter when attempting to organize?

 

Resources on Transparency & Public Participation

 NYS Committee on Open Government/Department of State—Provides information on NYS Freedom of Information and Open Meetings Laws, including how to file information requests and appeals.

 

RCSD Board of Education--Business meetings minutes, resolutions, committee meeting minutes and board policies area available as PDF downloads.

 

Project Sunshine—A program of the Rochester Fund for Educational Accountability, providing training to Rochester families on their rights to information and participation in their public school system. Includes District Watch which monitors compliance with requests for information, and Frequently Asked Questions on sunshine issues in the Rochester City School District.

 

 

OpenTheGovernment.org--A national consortium of individuals and organizations conerned about reducing secrecy in government.

 

First Amendment Center—A program of the Freedom Forum, providing information on free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government. Provides resources on open meetings and how to file a freedom of information request.

 

Wikifoia—A citizen-supported web resource on freedom of information issues, including a forum on freedom of information.

 

Public Citizen--A national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971 to represent consumer interests in Congress, the executive branch and the courts. Provides a clearinghouse on filing information requests and appeals.

 

SunshineWeek.org—A national consortium of journalists, open government groups and other organizations and individuals interested in transparency in government.

 

League of Women Voters-- A nonpartisan political organization working to improve government system and impact public policies through citizen education and advocacy. Through its Openness in Government project, the League advocates for transparency in government.

 

Common Cause—A national nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest. Common Cause NY is currently working to promote government reform in NY.

 

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (USED)—The Family Compliance Office of the US Education Department provides information on family rights related to student records.

 

National Council on Teacher Quality--  Provides a database of teachers union contracts from the 50 largest districts in the country as well as information on teacher grievances, terminations and transfers. Click here for the Rochester Teachers Association contract.

 

The Center for Union Facts--A Washington, D.C.-based organization providing research on the size, scope, political activities, and criminal activity of the labor movement in the United States of America. A program of the Center, Teachers Union Exposed provides district-specific information on teacher grievances, discipline cases and union efforts to protect bad teachers.