Walcott Gets Go-Ahead From State to Be City Schools Chancellor

Dennis Walcott got the green light from the state's education commission Thursday to head New York City's 1.1 million pupil school system.

Commissioner Steiner said Walcott's resume is "one of extraordinary accomplishment." He cited his "impressive record" of building coalitions as a former head of the Urban League and former director of Harlem Dowling Children's Services.

The commissioner said Walcott is steeped in policy analysis and the principals of budgeting through his nine years' experience as a deputy mayor. These factors constituted the qualifications needed under law to make up for not having a superintendent's license or a longer teaching resume.

Steiner issued the waiver less than 24 hours after a panel of educators unanimously recommended Walcott's approval. This stood in sharp contrast to his approval of Cathie Black as chancellor late last November when an advisory panel of educators split on whether the publishing executive should be granted a waiver. A few days later Steiner allowed Black to serve on the condition that she appoint a chief academic officer.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg thanked the commissioner and said Walcott's experience will enable the new chancellor to build on the city's reform efforts.