Legislative & Political Updates
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(May 1, 2008) Keep the Promises Coalition Response to NYC Education Budget
Last year the mayor and the City Council matched the historic commitment that the state made to reverse the chronic, multi-generational under-funding of the
The governor and state legislature — despite facing daunting budget deficits actually increased their commitment to kids when the state appropriated $600 million in new funds for NYC public schools. Compare that to the city’s reduction of promised funds in the wake of the substantial multi-billion dollar surplus.
In response, a coalition of parents, educators, and elected officials from across the city gathered this afternoon in opposition to the $450 million in cuts to education funding that would reduce or eliminate services and programs in many
(April 9, 2008) AQE Reaction to 2008 Enacted State Budget
Record School Aid Increase; Equity and Accountability Maintained; Assembly and Governor Provide Leadership
Senate Majority Makes Taxpayers Add Over $100 Million in Politically-Driven "Shares" Funding
“The record school aid increase is remarkable, but more important is that two thirds of the new funds are distributed fairly and equitably based upon student need thus maintaining the promise that was enacted into law last year,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education. “Make no doubt about it, the State Assembly dug in their heels to deliver fairness and equity in education funding throughout the state and Governor Paterson stood with them. Meanwhile the state Senate Majority used all their chits to drive a boatload of money to politically well-healed downstate suburban districts. Sadly many upstate Senators barely lifted a finger to add additional foundation aid for their own districts.” To read the release in full click HERE.
(April 4, 2008) AQE & CFE submit Comment on Proposed Final Proposed Contract for Excellence Regulations. Click HERE to read. 
(March 19, 2008) Thousands Rally At City Hall to Protest $800 Million in Budget Cuts Threatening New York City Public Schools
(New York, NY)— Thousands of concerned parents, educators, students, elected officials and other supporters of public education descended on City Hall today for a spirited rally to protest $800 million in current and proposed city and state education budget cuts and reductions targeting New York City public schools.
Demonstrators gathered outside City Hall Park on Broadway to listen as members of the broad-based Keep The Promises Coalition warned about the crisis facing city schools if the cuts are allowed to stand. The coalition is a diverse group of parents, educators, education advocacy groups, community organizations, civic groups, clergy, labor unions and elected officials that formed in reaction to the immediate and proposed cuts. Click HERE to read the release in full.
(March 17, 2008) AQE and CFE Express strong objections to proposed final regulations excluding advocacy organizations from participating in district Contract For Excellence development.
Click HERE to read the letter sent to Commissioner Mills requesting a revision of the proposed regulations
(FEBRUARY 14, 2008) AQE releases report detailing how cuts in promised aid disproportionately hurt poor students, students of color and English language learners.
"Will Education Promises be Broken?" Click HERE to read report
(Albany, NY)— Joined by parents, children and education advocates the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) released a report today entitled, “Will Education Funding Promises be Broken?” The report exposes disproportionately high cuts in promised foundation aid funding for school districts with high enrollment rates of poor children, students of color and English language learners. Advocates called on state legislators to restore the $350 million in cuts in promised foundation aid (basic classroom operating aid) in the proposed state budget this year. Following the press conference parents and children delivered Valentine's cards stating, "Don't break our hearts – Keep the promise," to every member of the state legislature. The press conference was part of six simultaneous press events across the state. Click HERE to read the release in full.
(January 22, 2008) Alliance for Quality Education and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Respond to the 2008 Executive Budget
Statement of Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education:
“New York State made a commitment in 2007 to finally meet its obligations to our school children and raise the bar on educational quality for every child. All branches of government committed to add $1.24 billion in additional foundation aid this year and to firmly protect our school children against year-to-year economic fluctuations. The budget proposed today, is the first step, in a multi-step process, towards getting a final budget by April 1st. The focus now shifts to the legislature to add the funds needed to fulfill the commitment to increase foundation aid by $1.24 billion this year. Today’s budget proposal provides $350 million less in foundation aid than committed. It does propose some grant funds that could serve as stop gap measures to help close the gap so long as those funds are covered by the accountability of the Contract for Excellence. Between now and April 1st all branches of government have the ability to come together and guarantee that nothing is allowed to stand in the way of fulfilling our long-delayed commitments to our school children.” Click HERE to read in full.
(January 9, 2008) Alliance for Quality Education Respond to the 2008 State of the State
Statement of Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education:
"Multi-year education reform was the signature accomplishment of year one for Governor Spitzer; his assertion today that investment plus accountability equals excellence is the right equation. We need both the accountability to ensure results for our students and the investment to make accountability meaningful. Last year the Governor and the legislature determined that in 2008 our school children will need a $1.24 billion increase in foundation aid in order for his school accountability initiative to succeed. Under the Contract for Excellence, $1.24 billion in new foundation aid is the increase needed this year to fulfill New York State’s part of the bargain. Foundation aid is the basic classroom operating aid that makes school reform possible." Click HERE to read the response in full.
(Thursday, December 20, 2007) AQE Releases Report Grading State Education Department)
REPORT: Contracts for Excellence Year One: Grading the State Education Department
In four press conferences across the state, the Alliance for Quality Education released a report entitled Contracts for Excellence Year One: Grading the State Education Department, which evaluates the State Education Department's oversight of the 2007 Contracts for Excellence. The Contract for Excellence is the new accountability system designed by Governor Spitzer that ties record increases in education aid to the best educational practices.
While the report makes several recommendations for improvements to the Contracts based on the findings, AQE, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and others, note that the funding for the Contracts is scheduled to more than double next year as part of the $1.24 billion foundation aid increase expected to be in the Governor's budget. The 2008 funding is the second installment of the state's four-year commitment to increase classroom-operating aid (called foundation aid) by $5.5 billion. Press Release
(Thursday, December 13, 2007) AQE & CFE Release 2008 School Aid Runs Based on 2007 School Aid Reform
The Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) submitted statewide district-by-district projected school aid runs for foundation aid while presenting testimony prioritizing education needs at a budget hearing held today by the State Division of Budget. The figures, calculated by the Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI), are based on 2007 New York State school aid reform legislation which include a four year foundation aid phase-in totaling $5.5 billion by the year 2010. Calculations for each of New York’s 597 school districts were included in the submission.
This is the first time in the history of New York State education that foundation aid levels to be included in the Governor’s budget can be predicted. School districts will now be able to accurately begin planning for next year in anticipation of state funding increases before the budget is passed, due to the four year education plan championed by Governor Spitzer and enacted into law earlier this year which includes payment percentage specifics. Click HERE to read the release in full
(Monday, November 19, 2007) AQE &CFE Respond to Approval of Contracts for Excellence
"Today education reform moves out of Albany and into our classrooms as the State Education Department signs the Contracts for Excellence tying new classroom funding to best educational practices, accountability and educational outcomes. Governor Spitzer is the architect of this reform, he promised to change Albany and in less than one year he has transformed our system of funding education in a dramatic and sensible fashion. New York voters can applaud the dramatic reform of Albany’s arcane school aid formula as school funding flows today based on student need, not political greed. Today after fourteen years of dysfunction and broken promises, our school children can celebrate the approval of classroom reforms to raise educational outcomes. Thanks to the Contracts for Excellence, taxpayers will be able to see what we are getting for our increased investment. Now we must closely monitor the State Education Department and local school districts to ensure every child receives a quality education." Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education
Click HERE to read the response in full
(Tuesday October 16, 2007, Mineola, NY)—AQE Releases report: “Property Taxes On Long Island: Zeroing In On The Problems And Solutions” Click HERE to see the report. Click HERE to see the press release.
While the issues of funding quality schools and property tax reform on Long Island remain top priorities of elected leaders and taxpayers alike, common misconceptions, and flawed evaluations have led to reform proposals that fail to address the real property tax crisis on Long Island and across the state according to a new report released today by a coalition education and tax reform groups
“Property Taxes On Long Island: Zeroing In On The Problems And Solutions” exposes the common misconceptions that have driven the property tax debate in the past and explores Long Island’s property tax issues in depth.
The report concludes by examining and comparing a wide range of reform ideas introduced on Long Island and within the State Legislature as well as looking at these proposals' advantages and disadvantages, who benefits, and how these reforms impact efforts to provide a quality school on Long Island and throughout the state.
Along with an in depth examination of the impact of property taxes on Long Island, the report offers five main conclusions.
(September, 2007) Sounding Off for Quality Schools!
As children across the state return to the classrooms this month parents are celebrating the recent historic 2007 education reform victories, including the Contracts for Excellence, created by Governor Spitzer.
The Contracts are the accountability tools that will hold school districts accountable to ensure that our children receive an excellent education. The success of these contracts will impact well over a million children.
While each of the 56 school districts required by law to submit a Contract for Excellence did so on time, only a handful solicited the community for public input also required by law.
Parent participation is a key element in the process of educating our children to a standard of excellence. We must demand that our voices are heard!
(June 25, 2007) AQE & Parents call on Regents to ensure School Funding Accountability
More than three dozen parents from across the state joined the Alliance for Quality Education, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the NY Immigration Coalition and the Coalition for Educational Justice at a news conference in Albany prior to the monthly meeting of the New York State Board of Regents. They called upon the Board of Regents to ensure that the historic new level of state school aid makes it into the classrooms where it is needed the most and results in increased academic performance.
The parents demanded that the Board of Regents enact tough regulations for the Contracts for Excellence that ensure: that the programs created with new state aid predominately benefit the neediest students; require the Contracts to be clear, simple and easily understandable; and show how and where the money will be invested and the anticipated outcomes; and provide for clear guidelines for meaningful public participation in the development of the Contracts by school districts. Click HERE to read the press release.
(April 17, 2007) AQE and CFE submit comments to the State Education Department
At the request of the New York State Education Department, AQE and CFE jointly submitted comments on the Contracts for Excellence regulations draft. These comments outlined the key principles necessary to achieve positive results: 1) funds must be spent on children with the greatest educational needs; 2) the process must be transparent and open to the public; 3) a detailed evaluation must be taken to assess the effectivness of each district's chosen programs.
In the coming months the Board of Regents will adopt permanent regulations that will have a tremendous impact on the future of public school children statewide. Click HERE to send a letter to each of the 15 Regents reiterating the impact that their decisions will have on the process of making the vision of quality public education a reality for every child!
(April 1, 2007) Statement on The Enacted 2007 Education Budget
This budget represents a substantial breakthrough in a fourteen year struggle to deliver a quality education to every child. "CFE battled in the courts and the communities to achieve three central goals: a multi-year, massive infusion of school funding, the creation of a clear cut system of accountability to drive funds to key educational strategies, and a fair and simple foundation formula to distribute school aid based on student need not politics," said Geri Palast CFE Executive Director. "With Governor Spitzer's leadership, we have turned litigation into law. The foundation formula is central to ensuring that this achievement is enduring."
Based upon Governor Spitzer’s proposal New York State is making a record statewide increase in school funding this year. Parents have gained the strong system of accountability proposed by Governor Spitzer that will drive funding to key educational strategies including smaller classes, full day pre-kindergarten, teacher quality, after school program and other reforms. Children in New York City, where class sizes are dramatically larger than state averages, will benefit from a critically important requirement to reduce class sizes.
The fair school aid formula proposed by Governor Spitzer has been adopted largely in tact. The Governor’s formula is the essential tool we have always lacked in order to fairly and fully fund our schools. In this budget we partially use that tool, next year we must fully use the tool. The formula adopted this year makes an historic commitment to a fivefold growth in classroom operating aid by 2010-11 with the lion’s share of this money going to high needs schools.
“This year, by adding his voice to the struggle for quality education, Eliot Spitzer forged a fair funding formula against fierce opposition,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education. “Now the Governor and our communities must continue hand-in-hand to secure an enduring legacy of educational excellence by ensuring this formula becomes the centerpiece for how we distribute every dollar of classroom funding.”
(March 23, 2007)-AQE & CFE ISSUE NEW REPORT DOCUMENTING THAT SENATE MAJORITY PLAN WOULD UNDERMINE GOVERNOR SPITZER’S
EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AGENDA
SENATE MAJORITY FOUNDATION AID DISTRIBUTION PLAN SHIFTS FUTURE SCHOOL AID FROM POOR DISTRICTS TO WEALTHY DISTRICTS IN EVERY REGION OF THE STATE
(Albany, NY) The Governor, the Assembly and the Senate have all agreed that the 2007 budget will provide a major infusion of new school aid. The dispute stalemating the entire state budget process is over who should gain the greatest benefit as a result of the new school aid formula that will be established in this year’s budget. The formula established this year will determine the ongoing distribution of school aid that will divide the school aid pie for the next generation of school children. In proposing fundamental school aid reform the Governor’s objective was to deliver educational excellence to every student. The Senate has made clear that their primary objective is to maintain the Long Island “shares” agreement. This objective is motivated by politics rather than educational goals, and, as a result, it distorts the Governor’s proposal rather than improving upon it.
The report identifies who loses and who gains under the changes the Senate Majority made to the Governor’s proposed formula. It finds that the Senate would reengineer the Governor’s proposed school aid formula distribution and take future school aid increases from poor districts in order to provide additional aid to wealthy districts. All five major cities in the state, 75% of needy small cities and suburbs and a majority of needy rural districts and average need districts would lose ground under the Senate Majority formula in order to provide additional school aid to 82% of the state’s wealthy districts. - more-
Click HERE to view Report (March 1, 2007)EDUCATION ADVOCATES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN CALLING ON MEMBERS OF SENATE MAJORITY TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR’S EDUCATION BUDGET
(Albany, NY)—Education advocates called on nine members of the State Senate majority whose districts would receive significant education funding increases to provide the leadership needed to enact Governor Spitzer's education budget. The Alliance for Quality Education and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity released a new analysis by the Fiscal Policy Institute detailing how each Senate district benefits under the Governor’s education reform plan.
At the news conference, AQE and CFE unveiled an oversized check for each of the key senators to sign. Each check was written from New York State to the children of the senator’s district. The only thing missing on the checks were the senators’ signatures. If adopted, Governor Spitzer’s budget would provide dramatic school aid increases over the next four years to the schools in each of the senator’s district. These include upstate and Long Island Senators Joseph Robach (R-Greece--$193 million); John DeFrancisco (R-Syracuse--$157 million); Hugh Farley (R-Niskayuna--$137 million) Caesar Trunzo (R-Hauppauge--$157 million); Owen Johnson (R-Babylon--$147 million). New York City Senators Serphin Maltese(R-Queens), Frank Padavan(R-Queens), Martin Golden(R-Brooklyn) and Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) have the opportunity to bring $3.2 billion to the schools of New York City.
“The State Senate majority has always drawn a line in the sand in opposition to any foundation formula reform driven by need," said Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education. “This is a new day in Albany. We are working with constituents in these districts to make their voices heard, and we are calling on these senators to put the needs of the children in their district ahead of yesterday's partisan
battles. School children need their senators to provide the leadership to enact this budget, and bring these signed checks home to their schools."
“We are at an historic turning point—we can fulfill the promise of CFE and ensure that every public school child in New York State has access to a sound basic education by assuring an adequate investment through a fair foundation formula based on need,” said Geri Palast, Executive Director of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. “Every district benefits through this infusion of funds. These senators represent school districts where the needs are great, and the Governor’s proposal makes sure those demands are met now and in the future. They can make the difference. ”
“Governor Spitzer has proposed an historic $7 billion new investment in public schools across New York State over the next four years along with groundbreaking new accountability standards and a new need-based school aid formula. The State Assembly has consistently supported similar reforms in each of the last three years,” said Easton.
Over the next month, the grassroots effort to secure the support of these senators for the full education funding, accountability and formula reform provisions included in Governor Spitzer’s education budget will include town hall meetings, rallies, bus tours, and more in each of these senate districts.
Some of the events being planned include a March 8th town hall meeting in Queens, a March 17th car caravan in Schenectady and Amsterdam, a New York City wide bus tour on March 17th, a March 20th rally on Long Island and a March 22nd town hall meeting in Rochester. The complete list of events can be found at www.aqeny.org.
Thursday’s news conference came on day 60 of the “100 Days to Educational Excellence Campaign”, a statewide campaign to secure increased educational aid to needy districts across New York State along with a revised school aid formula and stronger accountability standards.
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(February 5, 2007)
EDUCATION GROUPS JOIN GOVERNOR AT NEWS CONFERENCE TO ENDORSE KEY PROVISIONS OF EDUCATION BUDGET
Governor Spitzer and parents call on state legislature to deliver educational excellence for New York State’s school children
The Alliance for Quality Education and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity announced their strong endorsement of the historic four year funding levels, accountability, and formula reform provisions included in Governor Spitzer’s 2007 education budget at a news conference today with the Governor at the Capitol and called upon the legislature to adopt these measures.
“Governor Spitzer has proposed an historic $7 billion budget increase in state education aid over four years tied to a fair, transparent formula based on need not politics, investment in strategies that work and accountability for results. Speaker Silver has led the Assembly in supporting full education funding and formula reform. Senate Majority Leader Bruno has called for new investment with accountability, but has expressed reservations regarding formula reform. We urge legislators in both houses to take a fresh look at the Governor’s proposal, join forces and enact these reforms that express the spirit of the CFE litigation in taking the politics out of school finance and putting excellence in education first," stated CFE Executive Director Geri D. Palast
"The school my children are currently in starts to prepare them for college in pre-kindergarten," said Tanika Jones, a parent of with children in pre-kindergarten and fifth grade in Syracuse public schools. "They are encouraged to read and introduced to computers in pre-kindergarten. The school has the resources to provide enrichment programs like after school foreign language and photography field trips. This school creates a community of caring so children value coming to school and learning. My daughter's old school did not have the resources to provide the kids with a good foundation to prepare them for college or even the next level of school."
“The Governor’s budget represents a commitment to full and fair funding for the schools of each and every child,” said Billy Easton of the Alliance for Quality Education. “The balloons we are delivering to every legislator today represent the hope that New York State will finally accept its responsibility to provide an excellent education for every child. We are encouraged that Speaker Silver has consistently supported this type of reform. However, in the past Majority Leader Bruno has opposed this type of reform even though it greatly benefits hundreds of thousands of students represented by the Senate Majority."
At a news conference at the Capitol today with the Governor, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and the Alliance for Quality Education shifted the focus to the legislature. 212 green balloons reading, “Day One Begins With Me,” in hand, one for each member of the state legislature, the parents and advocates called on the legislature to adopt the four year funding levels, formula reform provisions, and accountability included in Governor Spitzer’s education budget.
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"In fifth grade my son Jamahl was in a classroom with thirty-one children. So much time was spent on classroom management, rather than education, that my son got lost," said Victoria Bousquet, a parent of a fifth grader and a seventh grader from Brooklyn. "The next year I was fortunate to get my son into a middle school where he has twenty-three kids in his class, rather than having him stuck in another middle school in our community which has thirty-three kids per class. If my son had been stuck in another overcrowded classroom, he would have become a statistic. My biggest concern is for those kids who end up stuck in those larger classes."
The new budget proposal includes a $3.2 billion increased investment in New York City schools and a $3.8 billion increase for schools in suburban and upstate New York. New York City will also invest an additional $2.2 billion in the New York City school system bringing the total new investment in education to $9.2 billion statewide including $5.4 billion for New York City.
This means that districts like Buffalo ($48.6 million), Rochester ($35.9 million) Syracuse ($20 million), Schenectady ($12.4 million), Kingston ($3.6 million) and Brentwood ($21 million) will all receive large increases in the first year and over four times as much in the fourth year. Governor Spitzer’s budget proposal will not take away money from any school district and every district would in fact receive an increase in foundation aid.
AQE and CFE are strongly endorsing several key aspects of Governor Spitzer’s Executive Budget including:
• New Funding: Governor Spitzer is proposing a one-year public education increase of $1.4 billion statewide as part of a four-year package that phases up to a $7 billion increase in annual education funding. This represents the type of historic increase in education funding that the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit sought to secure and that parents, students and communities around the state have organized to demand.
• Foundation Formula: AQE & CFE have always supported a foundation formula because such a formula is fair, simple and transparent. The Governor's proposed formula targets funding based upon student needs, not politics. In addition to the foundation formula for K to 12 education, Governor Spitzer is proposing an additional foundation formula that will make four year old pre-kindergarten universally available throughout New York State over the next four years.
• Accountability: AQE & CFE have always advocated strong accountability reforms tied to new funding. Governor Spitzer's accountability expands the measures of educational success beyond testing to include high school graduation rates and college enrollment of students of our public schools. The Contracts for Excellence the Governor proposes combine the types of planning and oversight AQE and CFE have always advocated.
In each of the last three years the Assembly has adopted education budgets that would have dramatically increased aid to schools across the state and replaced the convoluted school aid system with a fair, transparent foundation formula such as that proposed by Governor Spitzer. The State Senate Majority has refused to enact similar reforms.
Today's event marks Day 36 of the 100 Days to Educational Excellence Campaign launched by AQE and CFE on January 1, 2007, which was Day 1 of the Spitzer administration.
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(January 31, 2007) AQE Describes Governor Spitzer’s Education Budget as Historic:
Forecasts Fault Lines Between Spitzer Reform Plan and Senate Republican Majority’s Commitment to Status Quo School Funding System
(Albany, NY) Today Governor Spitzer is proposing the largest new investment in quality public education in the history of New York State. “$7.2 billion invested wisely, as directed by Governor Spitzer’s budget, will reduce class sizes, make pre-kindergarten universal and expand quality teaching,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education. “After thirteen years of struggle for quality education, parents and students can rejoice that Governor Spitzer’s budget actually provides the funding and the fairness needed to get our kids ready for the 21st Century. The Governor’s budget proposal is nothing short of historic! It provides a real statewide solution to the entire issue of CFE.”
Court rulings in recent years have established that New York’s Governor has tremendous power to control the budget making process. However, most political observers expect a major fight over the Governor’s education reform plan. “Governor Spitzer has delivered his budget to our legislature where for years Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has insisted that all Republican Senators draw a line in the sand against fair school funding even if it hurts children in their own districts,” Easton said. “New Yorkers will learn whether these Senators will now put the needs of our children ahead of the narrow interests of partisan politics.”
The efforts of the Alliance for Quality Education have been closely linked with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE), a landmark lawsuit which spent thirteen years in the state courts and proved that New York State was failing to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide all children with the opportunity for a quality education. Governor Spitzer’s proposal closely mirrors the plan that has been promoted for years by AQE and CFE. Governor Spitzer is proposing a $7 billion increase in state aid, combined with an additional $2.2 billion to be invested by New York City which totals $9.2 billion over four years. The $9.2 billion total approaches the $9.6 billion in total new investments that had been advocated by AQE. The Governor is proposing to rework the school aid system in order to distribute funding based upon student need instead of political considerations. The funding formula he is proposing is what is called a foundation formula, the exact type of formula that AQE has championed for several years. The Governor’s proposed budget targets new funding towards key educational strategies including smaller classes, universal pre-kindergarten, quality teaching and more time on task (such as after school programs). AQE and CFE have consistently supported these exact educational strategies.
With offices in Albany, Buffalo, Long Island, New York City, Rochester and Syracuse, AQE is a statewide coalition representing over 230 organizations of parents, communities, teachers and students.
(January 24, 2007) GROUPS DELIVER THOUSANDS OF PLEDGE CARDS TO GOVERNOR URGING $8.5 BILLION IN NEW EDUCATION FUNDING, AS PLEDGED DURING CAMPAIGN
AQE and CFE released data at a news conference at the Legislative Office Building while calling upon Governor Spitzer to increase investment in New York State schools by $8.5 billion statewide over the next four years, as he pledged during the campaign. Immediately after the news conference the groups delivered pledges from over two thousand New Yorkers to Governor Spitzer along with an oversized pledge card representing all the pledges collected statewide. The pledge, signed by parents, teachers, students and others, is a commitment to be Governor Spitzer’s partner in education reform and to fight for his vision for excellence in education. In the past two weeks thousands of similar postcards, letters and e-mails have arrived at the governor’s office and by the time he submits his budget he will receive over ten thousands pledges.
“The appalling number of New York children who continue to fall short of the federal standards demonstrate the absolute need for an increased investment in our schools statewide,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director of AQE. “We anticipate that when the governor releases his Executive Budget it will include the education reforms, the accountability and the billions of dollars in new funding needed to move from failure to excellence in these schools.” Click HERE to read the entire release.
(January 3, 2007) Alliance for Quality Education Reacts to Governor Spitzer’s State of the State Address
Today Governor Eliot Spitzer has reaffirmed his commitment to fully fund our schools. Only the combination of billions of dollars in new funding, a fair funding formula and strong accountability, which Governor Spitzer has outlined today, can ensure that school districts have no excuse for not delivering on the promise of educational excellence.
He made it crystal clear he is going to provide the level of funding that is necessary to deliver educational excellence. We anticipate that funding level will approach the $8.5 billion he articulated during his campaign.
For twelve years Albany gridlock has stymied fundamental education reform, Governor Spitzer has a plan to reduce class size, provide pre-kindergarten for every four year old, and expand the pool of qualified teachers. He has made it clear that he is going to propose a fair new funding formula designed to take the politics out of education funding and drive education resources to our neediest students. He is going to pay for new school funding without raising property taxes. But Governor Spitzer is not going to throw money at our schools, dramatic funding increases are going to be attached to the big stick of accountability to ensure school districts use money wisely and get results.
-Billy Easton, Executive Director
(December 20, 2006) 261 Leaders Statewide Deliver Letter to Governor-Elect Spitzer Pledging Partnership to Secure up to $8.5 Billion in New Education Funding. Release of Letter Coincides with New Education Trust Data Showing New Governor will Inherit $2,319 Per Pupil Funding Gap Between Rich & Poor School Districts
261 leaders around the state joined with the Alliance for Quality Education and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity to deliver a letter to Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer committing to join him in a statewide partnership to secure up to $8.5 billion in new education funding statewide, including $4 to $6 billion for New York City, and to link new funding to strong accountability reforms. The letter united leaders of advocacy organizations, parent organizations, teachers, local elected officials, school board members, school superintendents, civil rights groups, neighborhood organizations and others. The letter was delivered as The Education Trust, a highly respected national education research and advocacy center, released new data today showing that the new Governor will face a state education system with a $2,319 per pupil funding gap between rich and poor districts—the greatest disparity in the nation.
The letter highlights key points that the Governor-elect has articulated as part of his reform vision that, “we will aspire not to mere competence or mere sufficiency, but to excellence for every student in the state.” The signers also praised Governor-elect Spitzer for his strong support throughout his campaign for a school reform agenda promoting specific, effective educational strategies. Click HERE to view the signers and the letter.
(November 20, 2006) Statement of Billy Easton, Executive Director Alliance for Quality Education In response to the New York State Court of Appeals decision in Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State of New York. For PDF version click HERE.
(November 10, 2006) The Alliance for Quality Education congratulates Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer on his recent victory at the polls. Eliot Spitzer campaigned on a platform of fixing our schools and providing all public school children with the resources they need to succeed. He has pledged to support the same education reform agenda that we all have been vigorously and adamantly fighting for. We anticipate and welcome the long awaited necessary and overdue changes for our children across the entire state of New York starting on "DAY ONE". Click HERE to show Eliot Spitzer that you support him in making this agenda a reality.
(October 30, 2006)—On November 7th New Yorkers will have a chance to cast their vote in an election that will impact the future of public education in New York state for generations to come. Whether or not every child in New York state has the opportunity to attend fully funded schools is dependent on the political will of New York’s elected officials. The different positions on education funding issues could not be clearer in many competitive races across New York state. We must demonstrate to those running for office that it is not enough to just say you support education. On Election Day, stand up for our kids by making education your top priority when you vote. Before you vote please take a few minutes to look carefully at the voting records and positions of those who are running for office. When you cast your ballot on Election Day, become an education voter and remember that generations of school kids are counting on you.
(October 18, 2006) - AQE distributes "Bad Apple" awards to those who have an extreme record of voting against support for public education. Click HERE to read the press release. Click HERE to view the analysis. Click HERE to view the voting records
(October 10, 2006) - The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) today appeared before the New York State Court of Appeals to urge the Court to issue a clear and enforceable order that would bring the long-running CFE school-funding case to a close. In 2003, the Court ordered the State to reform the state education finance system, but the state's political leaders failed to reach agreement on how to comply with the Constitutional mandate from the State's highest Court. A powerful decision from the state's highest court would break this log jam and specify the cost of fixing the educational deficiencies identified by the Court in 2003. CFE has also asked the Court to require major accountability reforms to ensure that additional funds are not wasted.
"New York State has not yet fully complied with the order from the Court of Appeals. While we always remain hopeful that our political leaders will take it upon themselves to comply with the Court's order, past history has indicated that without clear, specific direction from the Court, New York's public school children will continue to be denied a sound basic education," said CFE Executive Director Geri D. Palast.
CFE's pro bono counsel, Joseph Wayland, a partner at the New York law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and CFE Of Counsel Michael Rebell, urged the court to affirm an order from an appellate court that requires the governor and the legislature to add between $4.7 billion and $5.63 billion in operating aid, phased in over four years, to New York City's schools. They also called on the highest court to order strong accountability measures to ensure that when additional dollars begin to flow they are spent in ways that make a difference in the lives of the children who need them most.
In its 2003 order, the Court of Appeals mandated extensive reforms to the school finance system to ensure every New York child a meaningful high school education. The State added substantial increases to fund capital construction costs this year but failed to budget the operating aid dollars and accountability reforms the city needs to run schools effectively. CFE filed its appeal to the Court of Appeals in April to ensure full compliance with the Court's order.
Groups filing briefs in support of the CFE position include: The Alliance for Quality Education; the City of New York; the United Federation of Teachers; the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus; the Bar Association of the City of New York; the New York City Council; the New York State School Boards Association; and the Brennan Center for Justice.
(October 9th, 2006) - AQE Launches “21ST CENTURY EDUCATION EXPRESS.” With parents, kids and supporters of quality education from around the state cheering and waving signs as they pulled into different cities across the state, the 21st Century Education Express Yellow School Bus Tour traveled the state today.
Riders on the statewide yellow bus tour called for a statewide solution to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) lawsuit and for fully and equitably funded schools. Greeting the bus in cities across New York state were groups of local parents, kids, elected officials and supporters of public education
The 21st Century Education Express Yellow School Bus Tour made fifteen stops on Monday on its way to Albany. Between several buses, the 21st Century Education Express stopped in Long Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Yonkers and Kingston before arriving in Albany. An additional 21st Century Education Express yellow school bus stopped in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica and Schenectady before arriving in Albany.
At each stop on the bus tour, oversized images of kids who attend under funded schools were presented to the bus riders to be brought to Albany for a display outside of the court of appeals. Above the photos read “I am CFE” and below the photos were real quotes from the kids about what they want to do when they grow up.
The bus tour comes on the eve of the October 10th oral arguments at the New York State Court of Appeals in what is expected to be the final appeal in the historic Campaign for Fiscal Equity school-funding lawsuit. The 21st Century Education Express and the October 10th hearing come just under a month before voters will elect a new governor for the first time since today’s high school seniors entered Kindergarten. These two events are widely expected to shape the future of education across New York State for generations to come.
Since the CFE lawsuit was filed 13 years ago, courts in New York State have consistently ruled that the state has failed to provide all New York state schoolchildren a quality education as mandated by the state constitution. Although the CFE court case was filed on behalf of New York City’s 1.1 million public schoolchildren, many rural, urban, and suburban districts across New York face similar funding inequities that deprive children of their constitutional rights.
Before the court hears the CFE case on October 10th, hundreds of public education supporters will hold a march and rally outside of the courthouse in Albany.
AQE and CFE support a statewide resolution to the lawsuit in order to provide all children in New York state the quality schools that they need and deserve. Under an equitable school aid formula like the statewide school aid reform proposal supported by CFE and AQE, the state would increase operating aid the New York’s public schools by over $8.6 billion a year.
(September 15, 06)— Eliot Spitzer wins Democratic Party nominee for governor. On September 12th, New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer became the Democratic Party nominee for governor by winning his party’s statewide primary. He has pledged that he will fully fund our schools and that he will provide a statewide resolution to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE). Every poll shows he is going to be the next governor. If he wins, the future of our school children will be in his hands.
This years’ gubernatorial election will play a critical role in shaping the future of public education in New York State. In November, voters will elect a new governor for the first time since today’s high school seniors entered Kindergarten. The gubernatorial election will take place only weeks after the highest court in the state hears the final appeal in the historic CFE lawsuit. These two events are widely expected to shape the future of public education across New York State for generations to come.
(September 7, 06)— Leaders Across the state join Leaders of major statewide education organizations joined with mayors, city councils and county legislatures around the state in calling on the next governor to provide a statewide resolution to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit. Members of the Albany Common Council read a resolution declaring September to be Act for Education Month and calling for a statewide solution to the CFE lawsuit. Mayors, city council members and county legislatures from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Schenectady, Binghamton, Kingston, and New York City are announcing similar proclamations and resolutions at coordinated press events around the state.
...“This November New York will elect our first new governor since today’s high
