Education wins big in State budget

School aid for the city’s children got a huge increase with the passing of the $120.9 billion New York State budget which includes $1.8 billion more for education statewide than last year’s budgeted amount of $17 billion.
Funds for city schools will increase substantially - although state lawmakers are arguing over how much and what requirements the city will need to meet in order to receive the money.
Lawmakers have estimated that the city will receive somewhere between $500 and $700 million this year - fiscal year 2007-2008 - in education funds.
“The new education money is going to come with strings attached to it,” said Selma Mustovic, the education analyst for Citizens Budget Commission, an independent, non-profit budget review organization. Mustovic said the most notable requirement is that schools receiving extra money from the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit will need to agree to a “Contract of Excellence,” requiring schools to spend the funds on state-approved proven methods like smaller class sizes and universal preschool.
Additional accountability measures will be put in place over the next few years.
“By 2010, the [State Board of] Regents are expected to develop a full educational accountability system,” Mustovic said.
On Monday, April 2 Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the budget passed on Sunday, April 1 - for delivering an additional $3 billion in total to city schools over the next four years.
Bloomberg told the media that the budget “does a lot for New York City and, on balance, I’m pleased with the result.”
In addition, the budget upped the maximum number of state charter schools by 100 - to 200 - allowing for an additional 50 in the city. It also requires state schools to lower the student-teacher ratio.
The response from several state legislators was optimistic and cautious.
“New York City will now have to show us that they are actively reducing class size and reducing student to teacher ratios - a measure that has not been called for in the past but will be mandated. In essence, we are forcing the elimination of overcrowding in our schools,” said Senator Frank Padavan.
State Senator Shirley Huntley said she will be watching to ensure that the funding is delivered appropriately.
“I have concerns about how the money is going to be spent. If the state is going to give the DOE [Department of Education] a blank check, if that’s the case, it will be business as usual,” Huntley said, questioning the DOE’s employment of costly consulting firm Alvarez & Marsal. “I think everyone is going to be watching.”