How the New York State Budget Is Made

New York lawmakers are finalizing responses to Governor Hochul’s budget proposal, aiming to address key issues like school funding and immigration assistance, as they navigate negotiations in the coming weeks. With over $230 billion at stake, the budget process includes debates over issues like opioid treatment centers, fossil fuel subsidies, and prison closures, with the … Continue reading How the New York State Budget Is Made

N.Y. lawmakers’ budget plans would lift school funding, match Hochul on migrants

New York State lawmakers finalized their budget proposals in response to Governor Hochul’s executive proposal, with both the Senate and Assembly including measures to restore hold harmless policies and proposing the full funding of Foundation Aid. Despite Mayor Adams’ plea for additional migrant funding, neither legislative proposals appears to incorporate his requests, setting the stage … Continue reading N.Y. lawmakers’ budget plans would lift school funding, match Hochul on migrants

Equal Pay Day Phone Bank for the Child Care Workforce

On Equal Pay Day, March 12, we’ll be phone banking in support of New York’s child care workforce. We know that funding quality child care and early education is the best investment that New York’s leadership and the country at large can make. Research tells us that by doing the right thing up front – … Continue reading Equal Pay Day Phone Bank for the Child Care Workforce

Time Sensitive Action: Push for $1.2B for Child Care in One House Budgets

The governor’s budget proposal falls short in providing the funding needed to adequately support child care providers and the families they serve. Now more than ever, families and child care educators are relying on Albany to respond. This response must prioritize an increase in wages for the child care workforce. The imminent release of the … Continue reading Time Sensitive Action: Push for $1.2B for Child Care in One House Budgets

The Status of Child Care in New York State

The report from Cornell University’s 2023 Empire State Poll reveals that two in five New Yorkers with children had to forgo employment outside the home due to child care issues, exacerbating workforce shortages. Cornell University’s ILR Buffalo Co-Lab, along with state legislators and child care advocates, has been investigating the true cost of child care, … Continue reading The Status of Child Care in New York State

Time-Sensitive Action: $2B Needed to Save At Risk NY School Programs

Did you know that students across New York are at risk of losing essential services and programs as federal COVID-era funding comes to an end in June, unless New York State steps up? The urgency is clear – our schools desperately need the state budget to include $2 billion to bridge this fiscal gap. As … Continue reading Time-Sensitive Action: $2B Needed to Save At Risk NY School Programs

Massive School Funding Threats! Take Action Today

As the threat of severe cuts looms in the governor’s budget proposal, we urgently need to come together to influence the fate of statewide school funding. This week, New York legislative leaders – Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and their colleagues – are fine-tuning the State Senate and Assembly budget proposals (referred to as the … Continue reading Massive School Funding Threats! Take Action Today

Phone Bank for Education Equity and Universal Child Care

Join us every Tuesday at 4:30 pm in March (one exception, we’ll be meeting Wednesday March 27) for an important phone bank uplifting the public education and child care systems that New York’s working families need. As New York’s legislative leaders, Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie, and their colleagues in the State Legislature are … Continue reading Phone Bank for Education Equity and Universal Child Care

NY’s child care educators must earn a thriving wage

Families and child care educators are counting on Albany to address the ongoing crisis in child care and provider wages in this year’s budget — and that means raising the wages for the child care workforce. But we’re running out of time. Right now, New York’s legislative leaders, Senate Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie, and … Continue reading NY’s child care educators must earn a thriving wage

Programs for high school students at risk of dropping out face ‘catastrophic’ funding cliff

Pending funding cuts to the Learning to Work program in New York City could lead to the loss of critical services and jobs for approximately 15,000 students enrolled in Young Adult Borough Centers and transfer schools. Learning to Work, which pairs alternative schools with community organizations, provides additional staff to ensure students’ attendance, connect them … Continue reading Programs for high school students at risk of dropping out face ‘catastrophic’ funding cliff