Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration made the expansion of pre-kindergarten its top priority in the early months of 2014, and the Mayor got the money wanted from Albany to create more than 50,000 full-day seats. The city also began developing new policies for how to handle struggling schools, and for charter schools that share space with regular public schools. But there were some incomplete marks for 2014 in subjects that will need more attention this year. Here are some of the biggest ones.

1. Universal Pre-K: the mayor's campaign pledge was to provide a total of 70,000 full-day seats, enough to serve every child in the city, by the fall of 2015. To get there, he needs to find another 20,000 seats. City Hall is analyzing its existing enrollment to determine where the next seats should go, which will determine how much money it needs. The city's public schools are pretty much tapped out which means the city once again will lean heavily on non-profits and religious institutions.
2. Teacher Tenure: oral arguments on whether or not a lawsuit challenging the state's teacher tenure laws can proceed are scheduled for Jan. 14, before a state judge on Staten Island. The case was brought by families who believe their children's right to a sound basic education is being violated by tenure. The teachers unions claim tenure is a guarantee of due process. The suit is modeled after a similar one in California.
3. Renewal Schools: this was the phrase the de Blasio administration gave to 94 struggling schools that will get more attention, through professional development for their staff and by turning them into community schools with extra wrap-around services for children and families. The individual schools must develop plans by the spring, including new attendance targets. De Blasio said he may close the schools although it remains a last resort move.
4. Discipline: many juvenile rights groups were hoping the city would announce a new discipline code by the end of 2014. They have been concerned about an over-reliance on suspensions, especially for "insubordination," which is considered vague. They also are alarmed by statistics showing black and Hispanic students are disproportionately arrested and suspended, as well as children with disabilities. Chancellor Farina suggested something would happen in the fall, but there was no announcement. The city announced schools can no longer call 911 as a form of discipline, as part of a settlement with families of children with special needs. The city has to make this formal, however, by having it approved by the Panel for Educational Policy this year.
5. Cell phones: there are many indications that de Blasio will lift the ban on cell phones in schools this year. He acknowledged the ban is not evenly enforced, and has a detrimental effect on students attending schools with metal detectors.
6. Co-locations: a task force released recommendations for making the best use of space in buildings with multiple schools, with a priority on reserving space for children with special needs. But the 12-page report did not touch on rules regarding which schools should and should not share a building. A new state law required the city to give charter schools space in public school buildings, or pay them rent to go elsewhere. There is pressure on Fariña to present a formal policy this year on how she will award scarce space to new and expanding schools.
7. Charter Schools: New York City is approaching its state-imposed limit for charter schools. In a letter to the state education commissioner, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wanted to explore lifting or raising the cap. The charter sector wants it eliminated completely. There is a lot of money and political influence in this fight which promises to pit the governor and the mayor against each other, again. 
8. Mayoral Control: the 2002 state law that gave the mayor of New York City control over the schools comes up for renewal in June. It last came up in 2009, when opponents of Mayor Michael Bloomberg persuaded lawmakers to require more public hearings if the city planned to close down a school. The state also gave the Independent Budget Office more oversight over the Department of Education. With charter-friendly Republicans maintaining their control over the state Senate, it's likely they will hold some leverage over de Blasio when he argues for preserving control of the city schools.