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Running for: City Council, District 11, Bronx

Political Party: Democratic

Current job: City councilman, District 11, Bronx

Web site: Koppell2009.com

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1. Have you been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers? Yes

2. Have you received campaign contributions from the following education-related political action committees?

Democrats for Education Reform No
United Federation of Teachers Yes
Council of School Supervisors and Administrators Yes
New York Education Voters No
Educational Justice PAC No

3. Do you have children in the public school system? No. Three in the past have attended public school.

4. Do you support programs like Teaching Fellows and Teach for America? Yes

5. Do you support efforts to stop the growth of charter schools? I support limitations on charter schools. I believe primary emphasis must be placed in public schools.

6. Would you preserve school report cards as they are now? I do not know enough.

7. Do you believe test scores should be a factor in determining whether teachers receive tenure?   No

8. Do you support the 2009 law giving the mayor control of the public schools? Yes, but there should be more checks and balances limiting the mayor’s power

9. What letter grade would you give the city’s public schools right now?   B+

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10. In the last eight years, have the city’s schools improved, stayed the same, or worsened? Improved: I believe there has been improvement in the quality of administration; innovation has brought better teaching methods; teaching staff has improved; supervision and guidance have improved. Also, conversion of most large high schools to smaller theme based schools has been a positive step.

11. Do you support Joel Klein remaining chancellor of the city’s schools? Yes

12. What’s an appropriate cap for charter schools, or should they exist at all (the current cap is 200 statewide)? The current cap is probably sufficient.

13. What’s the best way to improve a struggling public school? Installing better administration and teaching staff; studying the problems and dealing with each issue individually. For example if math instruction is weak bring in specialized math instructors.

14. What’s the single greatest problem facing the city’s schools and what specific policy would you propose to combat it? Overcrowding is a major issue in many parts of the district. New schools are needed and I am working to provide them.