Resolution: Calling on Governor Cuomo and New York State Legislators for a 2 Year full phase in of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity Monies in New York City and across the state ahead of the 10th Year Anniversary of final court ruling.
Whereas, in 2006 the NYS Court of Appeals found that in fact NYS was violating students’ constitutional rights to a “sound, basic education” through its final court order;
Whereas, the final court order lead to the 2007 statewide settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case by committing to provide $5.5 billion in basic classroom operating aid, also known as Foundation Aid.
Whereas, October 10th, 2016 marks the 10 year Anniversary of this crucial court case ruling in favor of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and a decade later, schools across the state are still owed $3.8 billion of which NYC schools are owed $1.6 Billion;
Whereas, students, particularly Black and Latino students and students living in poverty have been disproportionately affected by the state’s indifference to providing “a sound, basic education” for all and reluctance to comply with CFE ruling;
Whereas, according to a new report by the Alliance for Quality education “CFE Derailed: The State of our Schools in the Wake of the 2016 State Budget and a Decade after the campaign for fiscal Equity”, 30 out of 33 school districts where the overwhelming student population is Black and Latino, have not received the money owed.
Whereas, schools across the city have had classroom cuts, have been forced to lay off staff and have seen increased class sizes, while being forced to cut arts and music programs and struggle to provide afterschool programs and advanced placement courses;
Whereas, there is not an achievement gap as much as there is an opportunity gap;
Whereas, we affirm that New York State has a constitutional responsibility to provide a “Sound, basic education” for all, regardless of race or zip code and must address the opportunity gap;
Be it resolved: that CEC 17 along with Community Education Councils in New York City call on Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislators for a full two year phase-in of Campaign for Fiscal Equity Monies distributed via the Foundation Aid Formula, to begin to address the opportunity gap that has systemically impacted our schools ability to provide a sound basic education for all children in the city of New York.