NAACP BLAZ BOOST

Backs school control

THE NAACP came out swinging for Mayor de Blasio’s control of the public schools in a letter backed by other influential civil rights groups and delivered to state politicians on Monday.

The forceful note addressed to Gov. Cuomo and top Albany lawmakers marks the first time the state NAACP has officially come out in favor of the controversial issue of mayoral control. It was cosigned by leaders of the Hispanic Federation and Asian American Federation.

“We believe that the mayor must lead and be held accountable for sustaining and accelerating the progress we’ve made in recent years,” reads the letter signed by New York NAACP President Hazel Dukes.

“In addition, there should be every expectation that Mayor de Blasio will be up to the task, given his focus and past success on improving educational outcomes for our children,” the letter continues. “As such, we implore you to pass a multiyear extension of mayoral control of New York City schools.”

De Blasio’s control of the city schools is set to expire in June, after state pols included a temporary extension in the state budget.

Albany lawmakers have agreed to only one-year extensions of mayoral control for de Blasio for the past three years, instead of the multiyear approvals granted to his predecessor, Michael Bloomberg.

Polls show a majority of city voters disapprove of mayoral control, but the system has wide support among educators.