District Mayor Adrian Fenty on Thursday launched his bid to commandeer the public school system, proposing to reduce the authority of the Board of Education, centralize the $1 billion school modernization program and reorganize charter school oversight.

Fenty, who took office Tuesday, acknowledged that his political future and reputation are on the line over the success of his schools proposal, a 48-page bill now before the D.C. Council. He said his plan, patterned after the New York City education system, streamlines accountability and authority under the executive.