Craig Slutzkin for CEC 2

Open Letter

Please click here for an Open Letter to all District 2 Families from Craig

As the current President of the Community Education Council 2, Craig has been a dedicated education advocate for over two decades. With a proven track record of achieving meaningful results, he is unwavering in his commitment to securing the best opportunities for the students and families of District 2. Whether it's advocating for geographic priority to minimize excessive commuting, championing academically rigorous programs, or ensuring school safety, Craig has consistently demonstrated his ability to deliver for the students of District 2.

About Craig

Home

Native New Yorker

I know NYC public schools... because I grew up in them. I went to PS 232Q, JHS202Q and Townsend Harris High School, all NYC public schools. I have lived in NYC all my life. I'm a single LGBTQ+ dad living in Chelsea.

Dedicated to our Schools

I'm the proud parent of a 3rd grader at a neighborhood school right down the block from me, where I have served as PTA Co-President (PTA E-Board for four years) and member of the SLT. I am currently President of CEC 2. I am also Co-President of the Townsend Harris High School Alumni Assocation.

Community Activist

I've lived in Manhattan for over 20 years. I served on Community Board 5 for a decade, chairing its Parks and Public Spaces Committee with a reputation of bringing parties with very disparate opinions together.

Accomplishments

CEC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Craig has been a strong advocate for our community, authoring, co-authoring, and sponsoring numerous resolutions and letters to support our students. Click below to see how Craig has fought for better opportunities, fairness, and transparency in our schools:

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During the past term, Craig advocated for the students of District 2.

High School Geographic Priority for Admissions. For two years in a row, District 2 students faced the lowest success rates in high school admissions across the city. Change was necessary. Craig took action, leading the charge to reinstate geographic priority for select Manhattan high schools. This victory helps ensure students have better access to schools closer to home, reducing long commutes of up to 90 minutes to school and improving District 2 school placements. Craig is committed to fairness, opportunity, and putting our students' best interests first.

Expanding Opportunities with Honors Tracks in Middle School. Building on the efforts of the previous Council, Craig delivered real results as head of the Admissions & Diversity Committee. He led the successful fight to reinstate honors and screened programs in four District 2 middle schools—fulfilling his commitment to offering diverse educational options that meet the unique needs of all our students. Craig believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive in a program that matches their strengths and aspirations.

Advocating for Transparency in Literacy Education. Craig believes literacy is the path for success for all students. Over the past year and a half, District 2 adopted the Wit & Wisdom literacy curriculum as part of NYC Public Schools' NYC Reads Initiative. After listening to concerns from families across the district, Craig took action. He worked closely with District 2 leadership to organize three successful Family Information Sessions, giving parents and guardians a deeper understanding of how the curriculum works and how it will be implemented. Craig remains committed to ensuring families have a voice in their children’s education.

Prioritizing Student Safety & Well-Being. As a CEC2 member, Craig has been a tireless advocate for the safety and well-being of our students. He has fought to:

Craig remains committed to making our schools safer and better for every child.

Working with all Councilmembers to Support Important Resolutions. Craig is proud to have worked alongside virtually every Councilmember, building broad support to ensure that critical resolutions receive the votes they need to pass. His collaborative approach has consistently delivered results that benefit our community.

Adding More Access for Families to the CEC2 website. Craig led the revamp of the CEC2 website, providing for a more organized site with enhanced information as well as language access and accessibility.

Take a look at Craig's candidate statement where he talks about his candidacy, accomplishments and goals for the next term:

Click here

My Platform

MY PLATfORM

Programs That Serve Our Kids

Different parents want different educational experiences for their child. Some parents value a G&T program. Some value academic screens in our schools, and some do not. Some value honors classes. Some value a Dual Language Program. Some value community and a neighborhood school above all else. Many value a combination of "all of the above". I believe we need to recognize that different families value different things. There is no “one size fits all” solution. Different students learn different ways, and we should encourage a system where students get the education they can flourish in.

Reading Proficiency for All

We must acknowledge the failure of the DOE when the majority of students are not reading at a proficient level by third grade. It’s essential that we advocate for more reading specialists in every school to ensure that all children learn to read and comprehend effectively. This foundation is critical for their long-term success as they progress through the system. We must establish rigorous standards for grade completion and graduation, rather than lowering expectations because the DOE has failed to properly educate. Additionally, we must continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the Wit & Wisdom curriculum to ensure it is truly improving literacy and reading comprehension across our district.

Safety For Our Kids

School safety must be a top priority. I co-authored a District 2 resolution advocating for enhanced safety measures, and while we’ve made progress—such as securing locks on school front doors—there is still much more to be done. We must ensure an adequate number of safety agents are present at each school, allow parents to track the buses transporting their children, and implement effective support for students who face bullying or harassment. Additionally, we must be vigilant in addressing the rise of anti-Semitism in our schools and take swift, decisive action to protect all students..

Celebrate and Honor Diversity

We should proudly celebrate the diversity within District 2. It’s crucial that we serve our English Language Learner (ELL) students, especially our newest families. Diversity and high-quality public education are not mutually exclusive. There is still much work ahead to ensure that our newest families feel welcomed and integrated into our school communities. Despite any challenges posed by the federal government, we must ensure that our classrooms reflect the diverse populations they serve.

Class Size Implementation

In the next two years, our schools must align with the state's Class Size mandates. It is essential that this transition occurs smoothly and in a way that benefits our District 2 families. We must ensure that there is no compromise in the quality of education, no student is locked out of their neighborhood school or forced to rely on unreliable school bus transportation, and that dedicated spaces for music, art, science, and physical education are preserved.

Elevating Parent Voices

We must ensure that parents and guardians are not just listened to, but actually heard. Too often over the past few years, DOE higher ups held town halls and "listening sessions" for parents and guardians, then simply ignore their concerns and forget about the what they want for their kids. Parents and guardians are the "front line" and know what's best for their kids. The DOE must not ignore them.

VOTE FOR CRAIG SLUTZKIN FOR CEC 2

Vote on your NYC My Schools Account between April 25 through May 13