COURT OF APPEALS REAFFIRMS CHILDREN'S RIGHT TO A SOUND, BASIC EDUCATION; SUPPORTERS LOOK TO INCOMING GOVERNOR TO COME THROUGH FOR THE STATE'S CHILDREN

November 20, 2006 - The New York State Court of Appeals today reaffirmed the state's responsibility to increase funding for New York City's public schools in the long-running Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) case. The decision establishes a minimum funding figure of $1.93 billion as "reasonable" but deferred to the governor and the legislature to come up with the appropriate figure. CFE supporters called the number insufficient; not reflective of the State's actual proposal of $4.7 billion. Supporters pointed to the statements of Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer who has said that figure should be between $4 and $6 billion for New York City and up to $8.5 billion statewide to provide quality teachers, universal pre-kindergarten, smaller classes and strategies that will prepare our school children for the 21st century.(read CFE's entire November 20, 2006 press release)

For full text of the November 20, 2006 Court of Appeals Decision click here

To watch the October 10, 2006 Court of Appeals Hearing on the Court's website. click here

The October 10th hearing was a result of the full brief CFE filed on June 6, 2006, requesting an enforceable ruling to end the State's violation of its Constitution. read more

Documents submitted to the Court of Appeals pertaining to the June 6th appeal: