New York State Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Hearing on the New York State Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Education Executive Budget Proposals

Published January, 2013

CCC submitted testimony in response to the State Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Executive Budget proposals regarding education on January 29, 2013.

The State Fiscal Year 2013-2014 Executive Budget contains many important proposals regarding education in New York State, including a proposed increase in State Aid comprised of a proposed $611 million increase (3%) in School Aid for the 2013-2014 school year, a proposed $203 million in one-time financial relief to school districts to offset extraordinary increases in fixed costs, and $75 million to support recommendations of the New NY Education Reform Commission, for a total year-to-year proposed increase in education aid of $889 million (4.4%). All of the proposed increases in State Aid are linked to the implementation of teacher evaluation systems.  There are also proposed changes to preschool special education oversight in New York City.

CCC’s testimony applauded New York State’s commitment to increasing State Aid, and expressed concern about the level of aid at risk for districts without teacher evaluation deals. CCC urged the State not to penalize students for adults’ failure to reach agreement on teacher evaluations. CCC also expressed support for the proposed investments in full-day Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Community Schools, Extended Learning Time, Early College High School programs, and expanded professional development for teachers.  CCC also made budgetary recommendations regarding New York’s High School Equivalency Exam and multiple pathways to a high school diploma.