Monday, December 4, 2017

Coalition of Education Groups Calls for $2B Increase in School Aid

 
By Keshia Clukey

ALBANY — A coalition of major state education organizations is calling on the Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to increase school aid by $2 billion in the 2018-19 state budget.

The New York State Educational Conference Board's recommendations include a $1.5 billion increase in state aid to maintain current services and an additional $500 million in targeted funding, according to a report provided to POLITICO. The targeted funds would assist struggling schools, invest in professional development, help meet the needs of English language Learners, strengthen college and career pathways, and assist districts with growing enrollments, according to a news release accompanying the report.

“We recognize warnings about the state’s fiscal challenges and acknowledge the level of uncertainty going into next year, especially due to developments at the federal level,” ECB Chair John Yagielski said in the release. “However, state policymakers need to know what level of funding is needed to maintain current educational programs and services in our public schools and to foster student success.”

Click here for the full article. 

Source: Politico (via the Empire Report) 

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