Senator James Donovan is likely most famous for his service as the chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He led this role for fourteen years, during which he expanded educational programs, worked to reduce teenage pregnancy and illiteracy and created the New York City School Construction Authority. This authority enabled new schools to be opened without difficulty.
When Senator Donovan died, Ralph J. Marino said, as senate majority leader, “Jim Donovan’s most lasting contribution will be in the area of education, where he assured that quality and affordable education was this state’s top priority.”