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State's funding gap yawns wide for poor kids Jan. 19, 2006 The gap between what New York spends on students educated in the poorest and wealthiest districts has grown even larger, a new report shows. "This is one time we don't want to be in first place," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "The gap in New York is wider than any other state in the country, and we're shortchanging children most in need." When you compare funding for the state's richest and poorest schools, New York 's gap is $2,280 per student, according to the Education Trust report released late last month. Nationally, the difference averages about $900 per student, the report notes. "Even before you account for additional costs of educating kids in poverty, New York stands out for being more unfair than any other state in the country," said Kati Haycock. The director of the Education Trust, Haycock was a keynote speaker at the recent Summit on New York Education (for full report, see www.edtrust.org). The report commends states like Virginia and Maryland for looking seriously at their funding gaps and taking action to close them. "Even after New York was ordered to deal with these funding gaps, policymakers have failed to take action," Haycock said, referring to the still-pending Campaign for Fiscal Equity case in which the court has ordered New York to provide more funding for schools in need. NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin, who directs the union's legislative program, said "leveling up" state aid to provide all children with educational opportunity is a key union priority. Iannuzzi said the Education Trust report underscores the urgency of closing the achievement gap between students of privilege and students of poverty, an issue he has led the charge on in forums across the state. At the union's December Board meeting, leaders extensively discussed the topic, which Iannuzzi termed "an important social justice issue for our union." Closing the funding and achievement gap emerged as a central mission out of the education summit, which drew several hundred education, business and civic leaders in November. At the December Regents meeting, state Education Commissioner Richard Mills praised Iannuzzi and NYSUT for already moving forward on a pledge to call attention to the state's achievement gap. "This is just the beginning of the union's commitment," Mills said, showing the Regents a copy of the Dec. 8 New York Teacher highlighting the achievement gap. "It's a powerful statement." — Sylvia Saunders |
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