AQE, lawmakers ask for $1.9 billion increase in schools funding in next budget
By TIFFANY BROOKS
Members of the Legislature are pushing for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to invest $1.9 billion in school aid in this year's budget. At a press conference Monday, Assembly and Senate members said an estimated $2 billion budget surplus by 2016-2017 should be reinvested in schools across the state.
Eighty-three members of the Legislature signed a letter with the Alliance for Quality Education noting that 90 percent of schools have less classroom operating aid than in the 2008-2009 academic year; school aid increases in the last two years have been inadequate to prevent additional classroom cuts; class sizes have soared; and schools have been forced to cut many areas including arts, music, Advanced Placement courses, tutoring and even pre-K and kindergarten.
"It's important that the state honors its pledge for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity," said Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, D-Queens. "As the chairwoman of the Assembly Education committee and the mother of a public school student, I know how important it is for the various school districts around the state to be funded."
As the governor prepares his Executive Budget, the letter thanks the governor for recent education funding increases, but says it's not enough to keep up with rising costs. Nolan highlighted that the money would be best served for student instruction reversing cuts made to after school, art and music programs, advanced placement, and school staff.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-01-14-86385.113122-AQE-lawmakers-ask-for-19-billion-increase-in-schools-funding-in-next-budget.html
