Upcoming Events
- Book Forum: “Tales from the Sausage Factory”
Thursday, September 23
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Authors/Speakers: Dan Feldman, John Jay College | Gerald Benjamin, SUNY New Paltz - Implementing
Health Reform
Monday, September 27
10:30 a.m. - Noon Speakers: Richard Nathan, Rockefeller Institute | Deborah Bachrach, Bachrach Health Strategies - Campaign Finance Reform
Wednesday, December 1
Time TBA
Speaker: Michael Malbin, Campaign Finance Institute
Recent Forums and Events
How Will New York Implement Health Reform?
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
With relatively generous public health insurance programs, New York may be in a better position than many states to implement changes mandated by the health reform law that Congress passed in March. Yet many questions remain regarding how the state and localities will accomplish implementation — including the issue of how they will pay for it, said speakers at this Institute public policy forum. James Knickman, president and chief executive officer of the New York State Health Foundation, led the discussion with an overview of the changes required by the new law. Joseph D. Morelle (pictured), chair of the New York State Assembly’s Standing Committee on Insurance, stressed the need to balance the desire for more comprehensive insurance coverage with the costs of that coverage. Robert Doar, commissioner of the New York City Human Resources Administration, called for identification of a single agency to oversee all the changes required by health reform, to avoid having implementation get bogged down in bureaucratic red tape.
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video: James Knickman
James Knickman's slide presentation
Video: Joseph Morelle
Video: Robert Doar
Robert Doar's slide presentation
Video: Question-and-Answer session
The Role of Teacher Training in Education Reform
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
As debates over education reform intensify at both the national and state levels, policymakers and scholars are increasingly focusing on the key role of quality teaching in improving student achievement. At this public policy forum, John B. King Jr. (pictured, above left), senior deputy commissioner for P-12 education at the New York State Education Department, discussed the state's efforts to improve teacher performance and accountability. Doug Lemov (pictured, below left), managing director of the charter school system True North Public Schools, shared findings about methods used by exceptional teachers, which he has detailed in the new book, Teach Like A Champion: The 49 Techniques That Put Students on the Path to College. Institute Senior Fellow Kenneth R. Howey led the discussion and outlined several major efforts to improve teacher preparation in areas across the country, including a forthcoming paper outlining his vision for a coherent structure to provide teachers with enriched clinical experience.
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video: Kenneth R. Howey
Video: John B. King Jr.
Video: Doug Lemov
Video: Question-and-Answer session
A Five-Year Plan to Eliminate New York's
Structural Deficit?
Monday, April 19, 2010
Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has outlined a five-year financial plan under which New York State would be required to achieve and maintain structural budgetary balance. Leaders in the state Senate and Assembly have offered their own proposals for budget reform. This Institute forum brought together leading members of the Senate and Assembly majorities, and independent fiscal experts, to comment on the plan. Speakers were the Honorable Liz Krueger, chair of the Senate Committee on Budget and Tax Reform (pictured); the Honorable Herman D. Farrell, chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (pictured); Elizabeth Lynam, deputy research director for the Citizens Budget Commission; E.J. McMahon, director of the Empire Center for New York State Policy; and Frank J. Mauro, executive director of the Fiscal Policy Institute.
Institute Forum summaryLieutenant Governor Ravitch's Five-Year Fiscal Plan
Audio of Forum (Full)
Video of Senator Liz Krueger
Video of Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell
Video of Q&A session following Krueger and Farrell
Video of Elizabeth Lynam
Video of E.J. McMahon
Video of Frank J. Mauro
Video of Q&A session following Lynam, McMahon and Mauro
.gif)
An Agenda for Education Reform in New York
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
In a thoughtful and provocative presentation outlining his vision for education reform, New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner said the current practice of designing curricula to meet a predetermined, standardized outcome "is actually backwards." What the state — and country — needs, he said, is a thoughtful conversation over the question, "What is an educated citizen?" If curricula are developed with that aim in mind, and teachers are properly trained to teach the curricula, then the desired outcome is more likely to be reached, Steiner continued. He called for a balance among curriculum development, teacher training and educational assessments to improve schools.
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video of David Steiner's presentation
Video of Question-and-Answer session
Redistricting Reform:
Visions for the Future in New York State
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
This forum, which the Institute co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters of New York State, addressed the issue of redrawing the boundaries for legislative districts in New York after the 2010 U.S. Census and the effect that may have on competitive elections. Panelists were state Assemblyman Daniel J. Burling (pictured, top left); state Assemblyman William Parment (pictured, bottom left); Jeffrey Wice, special counsel to state Senator Martin Malave Dilan Sr.; Gerald Benjamin, associate vice president for regional engagement at the State University of New York at New Paltz; and Blair Horner, legislative director of the New York Public Interest Research Group. The discussion was moderated by Susan Arbetter, host of WCNY’s “The Capitol Pressroom.”
Institute Forum summaryAudio (Full)
Video: Gerald Benjamin
Video: William Parment
Video: Daniel Burling
Video: Jeffrey Wice
Video: First Question-and-Answer session
Video: Blair Horner
Blair Horner's slide presentation
Video: Final Question-and-Answer session
