Category: News Releases

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 passed by Congress recently  includes significant aid for public education, with about $4 billion for New York’s K-12 public schools and $450 million for child care. In response, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “As the pandemic rages on, our public schools … Continue reading Senator Chuck Schumer Delivers Big for NY Students & Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 23, 2020) — In response to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ announcement today that the Democratic Conference has won a supermajority in the State Senate, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “As the final ballots are counted, today we celebrate a historic Democratic supermajority in … Continue reading Democratic Supermajority Puts New York Closer to Fully Funded Public Schools​

ALBANY, N.Y. (November 17, 2020) — As COVID-19 infection rates again rise across New York State, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “New York’s families need leadership and a plan that prioritizes children. As the pandemic worsens, our state and local leaders are still prioritizing the bottom lines of … Continue reading New York Must Prioritize Students, Not Profits In COVID-19 Response

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 16, 2020) — In response to comments made by state Budget Director Robert Mujica in an op-ed to the Times Union, public education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “Governor Cuomo has been threatening public schools with a 20 percent cut to state funding for over four months. School … Continue reading NY Budget Director Unconcerned With Students’ Wellbeing

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 9, 2020) — A white paper released on Wednesday by the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education shows that even as public schools face a 20 percent cut in state aid, school districts will still be mandated to pay 100 percent of tuition for publicly funded, privately run charter schools. The … Continue reading NY Public Schools Mandated to Pay Charter Tuition in Full, Even as They Face 20% Cuts

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 1, 2020) — A report released Tuesday by the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education shows how Governor Cuomo’s pandemic-era policies continue a trend of balancing the state’s budget at the expense of the educational resources and opportunities for Black, Brown and low-income students. Just a few short weeks from the … Continue reading 20% School Cuts Would Impact Black & Brown Students the Most

ALBANY, N.Y. (August 19, 2020) — Last week the New York State budget office informed school districts statewide that it was temporarily withholding 20 percent of the State’s payments. This presents a major challenge for all New York school districts, but is catastrophic for the Big Five. Statewide, New York’s schools stand to lose over $5 … Continue reading Schools Hit with 20% Cut Right Before Start of School Year

Schools lack the resources required to meet the needs of students for in person and remote learning  ALBANY, N.Y. (August 7, 2020) — In response to Governor Cuomo’s announcement allowing New York State school districts to reopen in the fall if the COVID-19 infection rate remains low, the public education advocacy organization Alliance for Quality … Continue reading New York’s School Reopening Plan Has Failed Before It Begins

Impacted districts face $46 million in further state cuts Massapequa, N.Y. (July 28, 2020) — Long Island’s Black, Latinx and low-income children are at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of pre-existing health disparities, limited community resources and chronically underfunded schools. A new report, Sickness, Death & Cuts: The impact of COVID-19 … Continue reading Long Island Communities Hit Hardest by COVID-19 Have Most Underfunded Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 10, 2020) — Public education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education released a “roadmap” for reopening New York’s public schools in September, centering the recommendations and voices of parents, students, educators and others in cities and communities across the state. As New York’s school districts grapple with how to safely reopen school buildings … Continue reading AQE Releases Community-Centered Roadmap for a Just School Reopening