New York, NY - Schools Told Parents They Can No Longer Hire Teaching Aides

New York, NY - The city will no longer allow parents to hire teaching assistants to work in public schools.


The practice has gone on for years. Many parents feel the aides are needed to cope with overcrowding in well-regarded schools.


Following a union complaint, principals have been told that any aides must be Department of Education employees.


The New York Times says fundraising by parent groups has long raised questions of fairness. It has helped keep middle-class families in urban public schools. But it also can make it more difficult for schools in poor neighborhoods to compete.


Education officials and union leaders also say the practice of privately hiring aides raised security concerns.