File #: Res 0499-2006    Version: * Name: Declaring the month of September 2006 as the “Act for Education Month” in the City of New York.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 9/13/2006
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution declaring the month of September 2006 as the “Act for Education Month” in the City of New York.
Sponsors: Robert Jackson, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, Lewis A. Fidler, Alan J. Gerson, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Darlene Mealy, Rosie Mendez, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, David I. Weprin, Helen D. Foster
Council Member Sponsors: 17

Res. No. 499

 

Resolution declaring the month of September 2006 as the “Act for Education Month” in the City of New York.

 

By Council Members Jackson, Comrie, Dickens, Fidler, Gerson, Gonzalez, James, Liu, Mealy, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Recchia Jr., Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Weprin, and Foster

 

Whereas, According to the Alliance for Quality Education, based on New York State Education Department (NYSED) data, one in three students across New York State does not graduate on time, and in many communities the graduation rate is even lower; and

Whereas, According to a 2004 article published by Education Trust, New York State has the largest funding gap in the nation between high and low income school districts and one of the highest student achievement gaps; and

Whereas, The New York State Court of Appeals has ruled, in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, that the State of New York is failing in its constitutional obligation to provide New York City’s public school students with access to a sound basic education; and

Whereas, Increased educational funding, invested in proven educational strategies including small class sizes, qualified teachers in every classroom, universal pre-Kindergarten, academic enrichment and remediation, and up-to-date instrumentalities of learning, combined with clear accountability provisions, is a sound strategy to increase educational outcomes; and

Whereas, Although the Court of Appeals specified significant increases in school funding as necessary to providing a sound basic education, to date, the State has failed to allocate sufficient operating funds to the City of New York; and

Whereas, Further, according to NYSED’s analysis of school finances in New York State’s school districts, the proportion of total school funding in New York State provided by the State government is at its lowest level in fifty years, and there is a tremendous need to provide additional school funding through increased state aid rather than increased local taxes; and

Whereas, The same needs as those identified in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case continue in the New York City schools to this day, including overcrowded classrooms and schools, an inadequate supply of qualified teachers, and a lack of up-to-date textbooks, science labs and other instrumentalities of learning; and

Whereas, Every delay in increased funding has real and enduring educational costs for the 1.1 million students enrolled in the New York City public schools; and

Whereas, The Alliance for Quality Education and the Campaign for Fiscal Equity is encouraging participation in “Act for Education Month” during September 2006, in order to highlight the needs of our school children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York declares the month of September 2006 as the “Act for Education Month” in the City of New York.

 

JC

LS#1563

9/6/06, 11:00am