Amicus Brief Filed by League of Women Voters of NYS

The League of Women Voters of New York State submitted a proposed amicus brief on Friday, February 21 in support of CFE's case before the Court of Appeals. The League supports the active and informed participation of citizens in government and works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Their brief offers the Court a historical perspective on the central role that public schools have played in preparing students for their civic responsibilities and emphasizes that effective public schools are an essential component of a thriving democracy. The brief focuses on student preparation for civic engagement, demonstrating that there is a strong scholarly consensus on the range of skills, knowledge, and values that are essential for civic participation. This consensus supports the types of cognitive analytic skills and knowledge contained in the Regents Learning Standards and identified by the trial court in this case, and such skills and knowledge require substantially more than the eighth grade level of educational attainment upheld by the Appellate Division.

Posted February 24, 2003