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Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
Background
on CFE
Q:
What
is the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE)?
A:
The
Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Inc., is a New York based non-profit
coalition of parent organizations, community school boards, concerned
citizens and advocacy groups.
Q:
What
is CFE's main goal?
A:
We
seek to ensure that each student in New York City has adequate
resources and the opportunity for a sound basic education. Our
efforts also help students throughout the state who are not currently
receiving the opportunity for a sound basic education.
Q:
How
has CFE worked to achieve its goal?
A:
Since
1993, CFE has been working to:
Ensure Every Child in New York State Has the Opportunity to
Learn.
Delivering
the promise of a sound basic education has always been the key
to securing our children's future, and since 1993, CFE has worked
to make it the law. In two landmark rulings, the New York Court
of Appeals, the state's highest court, agreed with CFE's position
that all students are entitled to the opportunity to a "sound
basic education," specifically a meaningful high school
education that prepares them for competitive employment and
to be capable and knowledgeable citizens. The Court invalidated
the current school funding system and has mandated far-reaching
reforms. CFE is now working to help make this right a reality.
Promote
Public Dialogue on Education and School Funding Reform.
Every community in New York State is affected by the quality of
our public schools and the CFE decision. Creating and implementing
fair and lasting reforms, therefore, requires broad community
input and involvement. For this reason, CFE has been committed
to an innovative public engagement process to develop a statewide
coalition for reform. This process has already involved thousands
of advocates, educators, school board members, business people,
parents, students and community members throughout the state in
honest, focused dialogue on how best to ensure real educational
opportunity for all of New York State's students.
Strengthen
Campaigns Across the Country that Seek Better Education.
In
the belief that all children should have a meaningful opportunity
to learn, CFE conducts extensive research on similar court cases
and education campaigns nationwide. This research has strengthened
our own efforts as well as the work of hundreds of advocates,
attorneys, educators, researchers and parents across the country,
who are part of our national network, ACCESS.
Q:
When
and
why
was
CFE
founded?
A:
CFE
was
founded
in
1993
by
Robert
Jackson,
the
parent
of
a
New
York
City
public
school
student
and
a
community
school
board
president,
and
Michael
A.
Rebell,
an
experienced
litigator
and
scholar
in
the
field
of
education
law.
Jackson,
now
a
New
York
City
Council
Member,
and
Rebell,
CFE's
Executive
Director
since
1993,
shared
a
sense
of
outrage
at
the
inequities
of
the
state's
system
for
funding
public
education
and
its
failure
to
provide
real
educational
opportunity
to
hundreds
of
thousands
of
poor
and
minority
students
in
New
York
City
and
around
the
state.
Determined
to
make
the
needs
of
students
the
key
measure
for
school
funding,
the
two
founded
CFE
and
sued
the
state
of
New
York
for
failing
to
properly
fund
New
York
City's
public
schools.
Q:
Who
funds CFE?
A:
CFE
is funded entirely by private philanthropies. CFE is grateful
for the support it receives from many generous foundations, including:
The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA), Inc.; Booth Ferris Foundation;
Carnegie Corporation of New York; Robert Sterling Clark Foundation,
Inc.; Dickler Family Foundation; Donors' Education Collaborative;
Blanche T. Enders Charitable Trust; Ford Foundation; Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation; Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation;
Edward W. Hazen Foundation; Long Island Community Foundation;
New York Community Trust; Robin Hood Foundation; Rockefeller Brothers
Fund; The Rockefeller Foundation; Schott Center for Public and
Early Education; Surdna Foundation, Inc.; Tides Foundation, Paradox
Fund.
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