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FUNDING
BOOST RECOMMENDED FOR NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS
A
Court-appointed panel of special masters in the Campaign
for Fiscal Equity school finance case has recommended
that the State of New York increase funding to improve education
programs for 1.2 million New York City students, and to upgrade
facilities.
After
reviewing various cost studies, the CFE panel recommended
$5.3 billion in additional operating aid for standards-based
education and extra programs for low-income and special needs
students, to be phased-in over the next four years. The panel
recommended $9.2 billion in facilities improvements. The panel
also recommended the State re-evaluate education and facilities
costs every four and five years, respectively.
The
panel made its recommendations to the trial judge in the CFE
case. In 2003, New York's highest court gave the Legislature
and Governor one year to improve funding for New York City
schools. When no action was taken, the trial judge appointed
the panel to recommend a specific remedy.
The
CFE recommendations include several of the measures ordered
for New Jersey's 300,000 urban students in the Abbott
v. Burke litigation, including a $1.8 billion
aid increase for standards-based education and supplemental
programs. The Abbott order also requires an estimated $12
billion for new and renovated school facilities.
The
appointment of special masters in CFE to make detailed funding
recommendations is a judicial tool used successfully in the
Abbott case. In 1997, the NJ Supreme Court appointed an Appellate
Judge to conduct hearings and make findings and recommendations
on the funding, facilities and accountability measures needed
to ensure an "thorough and efficient" education for urban
students. Those recommendations formed the basis for the Court's
1998 Abbott V ruling, which ordered the NJ Legislature to
fund preschool and other K-12 programs, and school construction.
Related Article:
Linking
Funding Adequacy to Education Improvement
Prepared: December
2, 2004
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