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Legislative & Political Updates

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Campaign Update

1/25/10 FIX OUR SCHOOLS DON’T ABANDON THEM - VIDEO

 

“The PEP should stop ignoring parents and refuse to rubber stamp these school closings—don’t abandon our schools, fix them!” said Shana Marks-Odinga. “Shutting down these schools without proposing a turnaround plan is totally backwards.  There is $4 million in federal funds that could be used to turnaround eight of these schools, but the DOE has offered no plan to turn any of them around.  And twelve schools are not even on the state’s list, so why is it that the DOE wants to shut them down?  We are entitled to real answers and a real plan to fix all of these schools, not abandon them.” 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RELEASE

(March 30, 2009) AQE & CFE Issue Letter to Hon. Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, Regarding NYS Usage of Stimulus Education Dollars

Click HERE to read the letter

Click HERE to read media coverage

(February 11, 2009) AQE Releases Statewide Fiscal  Impact Analysis of the Governor's $2.5b Education Budget Cut

 

“From the Southern Tier to the North Country and from Suffolk County to Rochester school children will have their futures robbed if these education cuts are enacted.  It is simply incomprehensible that Governor Paterson is proposing to take $15,000 to $40,000 out of children’s classrooms in ever corner of the state rather than asking New Yorkers who earn over $250,000 a year to pay a little more in taxes,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education.  “Unless the legislature rejects these cuts and takes decisive action on fair share tax reform, this budget will set back the education for a generation of school children.  It is not too late to chart a different course and protect our schoolchildren by asking New York’s highest income earners to pay their fair share.”    For the Analysis click HERE.  For the release click HERE.

(January 7, 2009) AQE Responds to 2009 State of State

“Governor Paterson hit the right message when he said that we must protect our school children, unfortunately there is a total disconnect between this speech and his budget that takes $2.5 billion out of our schools,” said Billy Easton, Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education.  “The Governor reiterated the call for shared sacrifice, but he is not listening to New Yorkers who overwhelmingly want those earning over $250,000 to share in the sacrifice by paying a little more in taxes.  While the Governor says he is concerned about rising property taxes, his policy of dramatic school aid cuts will result in higher property tax increase.  It was a great speech, but on education the words do not meet the actions.”  For release click HERE