It's Almost Too Bad That Bloomberg Wants His Legacy to Be Education

As we near the end of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's last term, much attention will no doubt turn to his legacy. About a three-term mayor of the largest U.S. city, not to mention one who has served at a critical time in history for global cities, there is plenty to be said and written, both pro and con. Clearly he has been important. His policies on green space, alternative transportation, recycling, and public health have all made an undeniable impact on the city. But as far as the man himself is concerned, Bloomberg would clearly prefer to be remembered as the education mayor. The trouble with that view, of course, is that his record on improving New York’s public school system is arguably his least clear-cut success story.

Without a doubt, there has been progress. Bloomberg takes great pride that graduation rates have increased 39 percent since 2005, and you can hardly fault him for that. But even seemingly small controversies, such as that of a $32 million city contract with the testing firm Pearson, and subsequent problems with test administration, demonstrate the complexity of the issues.