ENSURING QUALITY EDUCATION

Fighting for Our Fair Share of School Aid

Since taking office in 2007, Michelle has secured $7.6 million dollars in additional state aid to schools in her district. This past year, the State Legislature passed an education spending plan, which provided a $600 million restoration in school aid and rejected the largest school aid cut ($1.4 billion) by any Governor in New York State’s history. Within hours of passing this plan, Governor David Paterson took to his veto pen. Michelle denounced the Governor’s decision to veto $419 million dollars in education aid for New York’s public schools.

Michelle is a sponsor of the Framework for the Future Act (A.7209a), legislation that fixes inequities with the school aid formula and increases the state’s share of education funding to Long Island’s public schools.

Highlights of State Education Budget Plan

• Michelle strongly advocated against the Governor’s proposal to shift 100% of the costs associated with preschool special education to school districts. As a result of her efforts, this proposal was rejected from the final budget
• The continuation and growth of the State’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program
• Allocates CAP reimbursements to non-public schools
• Restores $49 million for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), rejecting an across the-board cut to all TAP awards by $75