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AQE Report Targets NYS Budget

By Dave Lucas

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-1003665.mp3

Poughkeepsie, NY – The Alliance for Quality Education is out with a report highlighting the decrease in state aid to education, and the disparity between the education funding that local districts receive. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

The AQE report entitled "Early Childhood Education: Frozen Funding Leads to Cracks in the Foundation", is at odds with the proposed New York State Executive Budget: the group argues the fiscal plan radically alters how State Aid would be distributed, linking 31% of proposed funding to competitive grants for which many needy schools are not eligible, and pushing some districts to insolvency.

Cuts to school districts across the Hudson Valley run in the millions: The AQE is calling for a fairer distribution of school aid which would allow for the NY state board of regents proposal for increased pre-K funding.

Billy Easton, Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education, notes that despite consistent reductions in state funding, local school districts have shown their commitment to children's success by raising additional revenue to provide more access to Pre-K. But, after the 2% property tax cap was enacted last year, poor and below-average wealth school districts are facing an even greater challenge now to raise the funds necessary to serve more students.

Easton met last week with parents and officials in Poughkeepsie at the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library. AQE wants Governor Cuomo to follow the Board of Regents recommendation to give the lion's share of funding to the neediest schools. Officials with the governor's office point out that six other education-oriented groups from around the state are not in agreement with the AQE. Here is a link to the AQE report breaking down the cuts to school districts.