Excerpt:  The debate in Albany over whether to renew the landmark law giving New York City’s mayor control of its public school system, which serves 1.1 million children and is the nation’s largest, is being watched closely by politicians, educators, policymakers and parents throughout the country. The notion that urban school systems will improve only if their mayors are fully in charge, and fully accountable, has gained momentum in recent years, garnering support from the Obama administration.

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States and federal agencies are off to a slow and uneven start in allowing the public to track the first of $100 billion in new education funding under the federal economic-stimulus package, despite strong pledges of transparency for the program from the Obama administration.

Although about $145 million in aid has been sent from the U.S. Department of Education to states and local districts so far, most states’ “recovery” Web sites contain only general information about the stimulus program and no information on the money that’s flowed into their states.

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The Washington Post reports that"The money is falling off the truck between Washington and the local schoolhouse," said Robley S. Jones, director of government affairs for the Virginia Education Association, which represents teachers.

"The worst thing that could happen is "the federal government does its biggest investment into education ever and it does nothing for schools," said Amy Wilkins, vice president of the Education Trust in the District, which advocates better schools for the disadvantaged. "Education people are going to have to use sharp elbows and tight fists to hold on to their money."

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