The Council of School Supervisors & Administrators (CSA) is a New York City based collective bargaining unit for Principals, Assistant Principals, Supervisors and Education Administrators who work in the New York City public schools and Directors and Assistant Directors who work in city-funded day care. It was founded in 1962 as the "Council of Supervisory Associations."^[2]

Since its inception, the CSA has played a major role in NYC public schools, including arguing successfully for salary increases, a salary index, and creating a welfare fund for its employees. It became a member of the AFL-CIO in 1971 as part of a new national organization.

According to CSA's Department of Labor records since 2005, about half of the union's membership are considered retirees, with eligibility to vote in the union. CSA contracts also often cover some non-members, known as agency fee payers, which usually number comparatively about 2% of the size of the union's membership.^[3] Currently, this accounts for 6,698 retirees, and 210 non-members paying agency fees, compared to 6,046 "active" members.^[1]

In January, 1962, eleven supervisory associations form the "Council of Supervisory Associations" in order to fight for a salary index. The eleven charter members include supervisory groups from Assistant Principal to Assistant Superintendent. The new, united organization is created to allow school administrators to more effectively advocate for their rights and interests, as well as to help improve the quality of NYC public school education.

In March, 1962, the Board of Education gives the Council de facto recognition and issues a written policy statement recognizing the supervisors' right to present their views regarding their salaries, hours and working conditions.

One of the Council's earliest agreements is on a salary index. This index establishes a relationship between the salaries of supervisors and the teachers they supervise as well as between groups of supervisors. In 1962, this index is partially implemented and results in the single highest increase for supervisors in several years. By 1963, the Council's representative in Albany secures passage of a mandatory supervisory salary index in New York City, which is then extended in 1964 to include elementary, junior and senior high school principals across the state.

On July 1, 1964, the CSA Major Medical Expense Insurance Plan goes into effect on with more than 900 supervisors enrolled.

The Council is formally recognized by the Board of Education on May 5, 1965, as the representative of all persons eligible for membership in each of its constituent organizations. The memorandum calls for monthly consultations between the CSA and the Superintendent of Schools - and at least once a year with the Board of Education - on matters of educational policy, working conditions, salary schedules, and grievance procedures. This is the first agreement of its kind granted to supervisors in the nation.

In Spring, 1965, the "CSA Welfare Fund" is established. The Board of Education agrees to provide $140 per CSA member to the Fund. In June 1966, the trustees decide to provide supplemental major medical insurance, extended Blue Cross coverage and life insurance as well.

In September, 1966, the CSA establishes a full-time office in Brooklyn.

CSA negotiates its first written contract with the Board of Education in the fall of 1969. The agreement, the first comprehensive contract for school supervisors in the United States, runs for a three-year term beginning October 1, 1969. The agreement provides for substantial salary increases, a pension package, grievance machinery with advisory arbitration as the last step, a special complaints procedure in cases of harassment, regular sabbaticals, and an option for preretirement leave in lieu of accumulated sabbaticals.

Following a membership referendum, CSA joins the AFL-CIO as Local 1 of a new, nationally chartered union, the School Administrators and Supervisors Organizing Committee, later named American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA). Since labor affiliation required individual membership on a one-man, one-vote basis, the name of the CSA is changed from the "Council of Supervisory Associations" to the "Council of Supervisors and Administrators."

The contract negotiated with the Board of Education in September, 1976, gives CSA the right to take a grievance dispute to final and binding arbitration. Successor agreements in 1978 include substantial cost of living adjustments, bonus monies, eight percent raises over the life of the contract, additional sabbaticals, and the elimination of 26 hours of conference time for all tenured supervisors.

In 1976, CSA negotiates the first contract between CSA and the Day Care Council of New York, Inc., covering the Professional Association of Day Care Directors.

A new contract signed in 1980 offers significant changes, including a new group added to the collective bargaining unit (Education Administrators), an eight percent salary increase over two years, and an increase for per session employees. A new Day Care Contract is also negotiated and leads to substantial improvements in salary and working conditions for Directors and Assistant Directors.

The former CSA Welfare Fund becomes the Day Care Council / CSA Welfare Fund, and eventually covers prescription drugs, expanded hospitalization coverage, dental plans and some emergency services not covered by the employer.

In 2002, the "Council of Supervisors and Administrators" becomes the "Council of School Supervisors and Administrators." CSA also introduces a professional development organization, the Executive Leadership Institute, and eventually opens Educational Leadership Centers in five boroughs. ELI establishes itself as a premiere program offering training for all its members with a wealth of single topic workshops as well as targeted programs for new and experienced Assistant Principals, aspiring Principals, Education Administrators and Day Care Directors. In 2008-09, ELI begins a collaboration with and receives funding from the Leadership Academy to provide training for Principals.

In May, 2004, the Executive Board approves the formation of a Retiree Chapter. By June, 2005, the Retiree Chapter has over 5,000 members. The Executive Board votes to merge the CSA Retiree Chapter with the Retired School Supervisors Association. Later that month, the RSSA votes for the merger as well.

In June, 2004, with no contract in sight, Day Care Directors go on strike in conjunction with Day Care workers from Local 1707 shutting nearly all the city’s 350 city-subsidized Day Care Centers. In May, 2005, Day Care members overwhelmingly vote to ratify a new contract. The contract offers members $1,200 upon ratification, and a 14.5 percent raise over the length of the deal, which expires June 30, 2006. It also adds tens of thousands of dollars a year to the CSA Day Care Welfare Fund.

In 2012, CSA celebrated 50 years since its founding with a gala at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York. Academy Award-winning actor and AFL-CIO member Susan Sarandon introduced AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, who addressed the guests on the importance of unions and labor in trying economic times, and discussed his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election. He vigorously endorsed the incumbent, President Barack Obama. Approximately 800 CSA members and friends attended the event.

On May 4, 2012, after half a century in Brooklyn, CSA moved its headquarters to 40 Rector Street in lower Manhattan.

Founded in 2002, the Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) is CSA's professional development program. It is "designed to deliver practical, relevant and essential professional development for today's school leaders."^[4] Seminars are led by former administrators on a variety of topics ranging from “Supporting the Low Performing Teacher,” “Instructional Leadership for Students with Diverse Needs,” to data management and software training.