RELEASE: AQE’s Reaction to the Governor’s Budget

January 22, 2013 Legislative & Political Updates

For immediate release: January 22, 2013
Contact: Emily Karol
Emily@aqeny.org / (518) 432-5315 ext. 102

RELEASE

STATEMENT BY BILLY EASTON OF THE ALLIANCE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION REGARDING GOVERNOR CUOMO’S 2012-13 ANNUAL BUDGET PROPOSAL

“Governor Cuomo’s plan to create the first state-funded, full-day prekindergarten initiative is a welcome and important step. Full-day prekindergarten increases student success in school, raises graduation rates, and increases lifetime earnings of students. This initiative builds on the long term leadership of Speaker Sheldon Silver on providing prekindergarten to four year olds.

We want to recognize the fact that the Governor is proposing $203 million in Fiscal Stabilization Funding for schools, which is a testament to the burning needs that exist in the schools. Unfortunately, the proposed funding is inadequate and will produce more cuts to vital educational programs. In this regard, this budget continues the downward spiral in educational opportunity that Albany has forced on local schools. Unless the legislature adds additional school funding beyond what the governor has proposed, we will see yet another round of cuts in Advanced Placement courses, arts and music, tutoring, summer school and more. Last year the state added a 4% school aid increase and we still lost 5,000 teachers and other educators. New York’s students cannot stand yet another education budget that produces more and more classroom cuts. This budget does not come close to getting us back on track with the statewide Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement that promised funding so that  all students receive a ‘sound, basic education,’” said Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

Statement from David Sciarra, Executive Director of the Education Law Center:

“Over the last year, school districts continued to make deep cuts to essential staff, programs and services.  It’s time to reverse course.  The legislature must make a re-investment in the 2007 Foundation Formula the top education priority in this year’s budget.”

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