What Is A Small city School District?

Small city school districts are defined in New York State Law as the school districts of each city which according to the latest federal census has fewer than one hundred twenty-five thousand inhabitants.  There are currently fifty-seven small city school districts throughout New York State.

Small city school districts serve more than a quarter of a million children and employ more than 20,000 teachers and staff.  These districts have approximately twice the student enrollment than the average district in the state and collectively, they serve communities totaling more than 1.5 million residents.  As a result, small city school districts have many of the same demographic characteristics as the five large city school districts in New York State.  These characteristics include higher percentages of disadvantaged students, limited English proficient students, dropouts and students with special educational needs.  Small city school districts are also typically characterized by higher percentages of families living on incomes below 200% of the poverty level, minority children, unemployment and single parent families.

The New York State Association of Small City School Districts (NYSASCSD) was organized in 1985, and incorporated in 1986, by a group of concerned superintendents and board members.  NYSASCSD is a not-for-profit Association comprised of small city school districts each represented by its superintendent and board of education.

Small city school districts superintendents and board members who are members of the Association have traditionally looked at issues from a small city’s perspective with particular focus on the children and parents living and working in our urban settings.  Small city school districts continually strive to develop fiscally responsible and developmentally appropriate education programs for all of their students.

More About The Association

Small city school districts may become members of the Association by paying annual dues.  NYSASCSD’s dues structure and budget are determined by the Board of Directors and presented to the membership for approval at the Association’s annual meeting.

NYSASCSD is governed by its twenty board member from which five officers are elected annually.  The officers and Board of Directors are comprised of equal numbers of superintendents and board members from various small city school districts.  Officers are nominated and elected each year by the Board of Directors.  The officers serve a one-year term that commences immediately after the Association’s annual meeting.  The Association’s by-laws mandate that the President of NYSASCSD alternate each year between a superintendent and a board member of a small city school district.

Six members of the Board of Directors are also elected by the membership at the Association’s annual meeting.  Nominees for the Board of Directors are chosen by the Association’s Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee is appointed each year by the President of the Association.  Members of the Board of Directors are elected to serve a three-year term that begins January 1^st of the following calendar year.

The New York State Association of Small City School District’s general counsel and executive assistant provide NYSASCSD with general counsel, legislative monitoring and representation and association support services.