|
|
|||||||||||
Home / News / Press Releases
/ Testimony
/ Legislation
/ On the Issues
/ Newsletter
/ Resources /
|
|||||||||||
|
|
For Immediate Release: February 4th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS
RELEASE*** State
Senator Liz Krueger Commits to Building a “Sound Basic Education” for Every
Child This Year Declares that Governor’s Executive Budget Shortchanges New York
City Children, Not Enough for CFE Down Payment New York, NY – State
Senator Liz Krueger joins with the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) in
rejecting Governor George Pataki’s proposal for a $325 million “down payment”
in the 2004-05 Executive Budget, saying it is not enough to meet the most
urgent needs of school children in New York City or across the state. Senator Krueger also contested the
Governor’s proposed 1.05% increase in state aid this year for New York City,
which is less than inflation. In July 2003, the highest court in the state held that New
York City schoolchildren are not receiving a “meaningful high school
education” which is in violation of the state constitution. The Court of Appeals ordered the state to
provide every child with a “sound basic education” and implement a fair
funding formula for adequate school aid statewide. “Quality education must be a priority for New York State,”
said Senator Krueger. “The ruling by
the Court of Appeals has transformed the course of education in New
York. Unfortunately, the supposed
down payment proposal that the Governor has highlighted in his Executive
Budget is shamelessly insufficient.
If the Governor really wants to institute a funding formula that
works, then he must fully commit to the CFE decision and pledge to giving
more money as a down payment.” A
recently completed study commissioned by CFE estimates it will require $6-$10
billion to implement the decision. Furthermore, the Governor proposes to raise money for the
“Sound Basic Education” Fund from Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) proceeds in order
to comply with the court decision.
Gaming revenues are a regressive tax.
Senator Krueger does not believe that such revenues are a “reliable,
sustainable and predictable” source for school aid. “The Governor continues to disregard the rights of our
children,” stated Senator Krueger.
“Banking on state sanctioned lottery terminals to fund public
education is yet another example of misguided priorities and bad public
policy. We have learned from past
experience that revenues generated from the lottery have simply replaced
existing state education dollars, despite promises to increase funding. There is no reason to believe Albany will
discontinue this game of smoke and mirrors with the video lottery terminals. The lottery and VLT’s will not help many
New Yorkers escape poverty, but a sound basic education can.” The Alliance for Quality Education held a dozen public
forums across the state last year.
From those forums the public defined a sound basic education to
mean: a qualified teacher in every
classroom; smaller class sizes; pre-Kindergarten programs; libraries,
laboratories and textbooks that are up to date; and safe and modern school
buildings so that every child has an opportunity to meet the Regent Learning
Standards. “The Alliance for Quality Education is pleased to work
with Senator Krueger in building a sound basic education for New York’s
children”, said Maria Dapontes Dougherty, a Parent Teacher Association
President and Executive Member of the Alliance for Quality Education in New
York City. “We will be working with
members to have a strong voice in getting a good plan adopted by the July 30th
deadline set by the courts,” she said “The fact that the state has refused our city
schoolchildren their fair share of education funds until being forced to act
by the courts speaks volumes to the overall lack of government commitment to
public education,” remarked Senator Krueger.
“The proposed solution to rely on gambling and gimmicks and the failure
to directly appropriate and guarantee education funds cannot be accepted as a
solution. I would argue that giving
$2 billion as a down payment for CFE and looking to progressive tax reforms
to generate revenue is infinitely wiser than gambling with our children’s
future.” -30- |
|||||||||
