Category: Newsroom

Governor Cuomo, Legislature Must Step Up & Fully Fund Schools ALBANY, N.Y. (December 9, 2019) — In response to the New York State Board of Regents’ $2 billion education proposal that was released Monday, public education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement: “The New York State Board of Regents, under the … Continue reading AQE Applauds Board of Regents School Aid Proposal

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (December 5, 2019) — Education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education released the following statement in response to a proposed plan to cut 287 positions in Rochester City School District, including 168 teacher and 38 paraprofessional positions, effective Jan 1.  “The proposed cuts to nearly 300 positions in the Rochester schools will … Continue reading Mid-Year Cuts in Rochester Schools Pose Devastating Threat to Students

New York, N.Y. (November 14, 2019) – Today leading community organizations sent a letter to New York City Councilmember Ritchie Torres, who is running for Congress, calling on him to return $11,200 he received from hedge fund manager Dan Loeb. In 2017, after Loeb posted racist remarks aimed at Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Torres pledged to refuse contributions … Continue reading Community Organizations Call on Councilman Ritchie Torres to Return Racist Dan Loeb’s Campaign Cash

ALBANY, NY (October 28, 2019) — For the first time in history, the spending gap between rich and poor school districts in New York State now exceeds $10,000 per pupil. New data released by public school advocacy organization Alliance for Quality Education shows that between 2007 and 2009, when the Foundation Aid formula was being implemented and funded, the opportunity gap was … Continue reading Rich-Poor Spending Gap Soars to More Than $10,000 Per Pupil

YONKERS, N.Y. (October 16, 2019) — Yonkers parents, school officials, community organizations and State Senator Robert Jackson gathered for a press conference Wednesday morning calling for New York State and the New York State Senate to step up to its obligation to fully fund public schools.  Participants gathered outside Yonkers Public Library before the State … Continue reading State Senator Robert Jackson Joins Yonkers Parents, AQE to call for full funding of the State’s Foundation Aid formula as Senate Convenes School Aid Roundtables

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 16, 2019) — A report released Wednesday morning delineates the consequences of New York State’s failure to use its own school funding formula, the Foundation Aid formula, since 2009. The report by the Alliance for Quality Education seeks to bring clarity to the conversation around school funding, as the New York State … Continue reading Report: New York State Uses Foundation Aid In Name Only, and Black & Latinx Student Pay the Price

Jasmine Gripper to lead Statewide Education Advocacy Organization Beginning in 2020 ALBANY, N.Y. — Statewide education advocacy organization the Alliance for Quality Education announced today that Jasmine Gripper will be taking on the role of executive director in January 2020. Gripper will be taking over from Billy Easton, who is stepping down after leading the … Continue reading Alliance for Quality Education Announces New Executive Director

Urgent Need for Senator Montgomery’s Solutions Not Suspensions Bill to Address Systemic Racism in School Discipline ALBANY, N.Y. (June 17, 2019) — A new report finds that school disciplinary actions that disproportionately target Black and Latinx youth are feeding the school to prison pipeline. The report, published Monday by education advocacy organization the Alliance for … Continue reading New Data Underscores Call to Pass Legislation Now to End the School to Prison Pipeline

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 29, 2019) — Advocates, tenants, parents, and elected officials joined together Wednesday to call on the State Legislature to work together to pass several important bills, rather than resorting to an end-of-session “Big Ugly” bill that would allow Governor Cuomo to leverage individual issues against each other. Advocates demanded action on bills … Continue reading Advocates Demand that Legislature Takes Action on Marijuana, Housing, Criminal Justice & Education

Statement on the 2019-20 Enacted Budget by Jasmine Gripper, Legislative Director, Alliance for Quality Education ALBANY, N.Y. (March 31, 2019)—The 2019-20 enacted budget includes $1 billion total increase in school aid, with $618 million increase in Foundation Aid, which is basic operating aid. This is far below the New York State Board of Regents recommendation … Continue reading Education Budget Fails Children