Black, brown, lower-income, and immigrant communities needed transformative investments: an updated Foundation Aid formula to ensure equitable school funding, significant investment in universal child care, and real economic justice. Instead, the announcement of the budget deal reflects incremental progress and continued compromises, leaving too many uncertain about their future. This repeated cycle of uncertainty over … Continue reading AQE Responds to Governor Hochul’s Budget Announcement
Mayor Adams announces expansion of free after-school programs with goal of making it universal
Mayor Adams proposed “After-School for All” expansion, priced at $331 million by the 2027-28 school year, may if implemented provide around 184,000 additional seats for public school students in kindergarten through 5th grade. Whether or not the eprogram can be truly universal and have enough seats to provide programming to any family who wants it … Continue reading Mayor Adams announces expansion of free after-school programs with goal of making it universal
Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $254 billion state budget deal
Nearly a month after the state budget was due, Governor Hochul announced a “general agreement” to pass a tentative $254 billion budget. Read the full article.
Hochul won’t rule out nonpublic school regs rollback in budget
Governor Hochul and legislative leaders are considering weakening education standards for nonpublic schools – including religious yeshivas – as part of budget negotiations, which could undermine recent stricter equivalency rules for public school alternatives. Critics warn that lowering standards, particularly for core subjects like math and English, risks harming students’ education and politicizing school accountability, … Continue reading Hochul won’t rule out nonpublic school regs rollback in budget
Trump signs orders to promote stricter school discipline, end analysis of racial disparities
President Trump signed executive orders reinstating stricter school discipline policies and banning the use of racial equity considerations, reversing Obama-era civil rights guidance that aimed to address disparities in suspensions and expulsions. The move, supported by many conservatives who blamed previous approaches to safety concerns, ignores data showing declining school violence and risks worsening racial … Continue reading Trump signs orders to promote stricter school discipline, end analysis of racial disparities
New York Democrats Push to Bring Back State Tax on Stock Sales
New York State Democrats, led by Senator James Sanders Jr. (10th SD) and Assemblymember Phil Steck (110th AD), co-hosted a press conference outside the New York Stock Exchange along side advocates, including AQE. Should the bills passing the return of this tax (repealed in 1981 since being in effect from 1905) pass, revenues gathered would … Continue reading New York Democrats Push to Bring Back State Tax on Stock Sales
We can expand access to affordable child care in New York. Let’s do it. | Opinion
Chair of the New York Senate Education Committee, Senator Shelley Mayer, wrote an opinion piece published in Lohud, on the importance of expanding CCAP in NYS, in order to better support New York State’s working families and child care workforce. Increased reliance on child care assistance since its recent expansions came into effect, show that … Continue reading We can expand access to affordable child care in New York. Let’s do it. | Opinion
A Legal Battle Over Trump’s Threats to Public School Funding Has Begun
The Trump administration is facing lawsuits from states, teachers’ unions, and civil rights groups over its attempt to cut federal education funding unless states abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in K-12 schools. Opponents argue the administration is misapplying a Supreme Court decision on affirmative action to public schools and overstepping federal authority in … Continue reading A Legal Battle Over Trump’s Threats to Public School Funding Has Begun
NYC Mayor Adams planning to reverse proposed cuts to 3-K, early childhood education
NYC Mayor Eric Adams is proposing to baseline $167 million in annual funding to maintain current levels of 3-K and preschool special education, signaling a retreat from previous plans to cut funds for child care programs. While the move aims to stabilize early education and safeguard Head Start sites amid uncertain federal funding, advocates note … Continue reading NYC Mayor Adams planning to reverse proposed cuts to 3-K, early childhood education
Adams to add funding for special education pre-K and expanded 3-K seats to budget plan
Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to include $167 million in his executive budget to restore and baseline funding for special education pre-K and expanded 3-K seats, while also pledging to maintain Head Start programs regardless of potential federal cuts. Advocates say the move is a step forward but stress that more funding is needed, as … Continue reading Adams to add funding for special education pre-K and expanded 3-K seats to budget plan