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Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
The
Road to Educational Reform: Who is Involved and What Are They
Doing?
Q:
What
is CFE's Sound Basic Education Task Force?
A: CFE
established the Sound Basic Education Task Force in September
2003 to assure that the state adopts sound, non-partisan policies
that will result in the effective statewide implementation of
the CFE decision. Our task force, assisted by numerous experts
with input from a broad array of individuals and organizations
from around the state, has developed specific proposals in major
areas encompassed by the court order: reform of the state system
for providing operating funds to school districts; reform of
the state system for providing capital funds to school districts;
and reform of the state's approach to accountability in education.
The task force proposals, released in spring 2004, will be shared
with the state legislature, the Governor's Commission for Education
Reform, and, if necessary, the court.
Q:
What
educational reforms does CFE support?
A:
CFE
believes that New York State's school funding system, along with
other education reforms, should reflect actual student needs and
not be driven by political deal-making. The state's school funding
system should be rational, fair, simple, and understandable. It
should provide steady and sustainable state support. School funding
should also be sufficiently flexible to address the needs of all
districts and maximize local control.
Q:
What
is the Governor's Commission for Education Reform?
A:
Subsequent
to the CFE ruling, Governor Pataki created a Commission for Education
Reform to address the Court of Appeals' requirements in the CFE
decision. Although the Commission was established without the
input or representation of the state legislature, elected officials
from New York City, representatives of the State Education Department,
or members of the education advocacy community, the group is charged
with addressing the Court of Appeals' demands that the state:
ascertain the actual cost of providing a sound basic education;
ensure that every school has the resources necessary for providing
that opportunity to every child; and put into place a system of
accountability to ensure the reforms actually provide the opportunity
for a sound basic education. The Commission's report was released in March 2004.
Q:
How
long
will
it
take
to
change
the
school
funding
system?
A:
Meaningful
reform
does
not
take
place
overnight,
and
responsible
changes
to
New
York's
school
funding
system
may
need
to
be
phased
in
over
the
course
of
several
years.
However,
the
court's
ruling
made
it
clear
that
another
generation
of
students
cannot
be
sacrificed
for
purposes
of
political
expedience.
There
can be no further
delay
in
rectifying
the
current
constitutional
violation
and
addressing
the
urgent
education
funding
needs
of
districts
across
the
state,
even
while
comprehensive,
lasting
reform
policies
are
being
developed.
Q:
What
reforms will happen next?
A:
Delivering
a sound basic education to every student has always been the key
to securing our children's future, and now, because of the New
York Adequacy Study, we know what it will cost. Of course, the
next steps are ensuring that the resources reach the schools and
the kids, and putting in place a method to ensure that any reforms
actually provide a better opportunity for a sound basic education.
CFE is hopeful that our non-partisan, solid proposals for reform
(of the state system for providing operating funds to school districts;
of the state system for providing capital funds to school districts;
and of the state's approach to accountability in education), will
help ensure prompt and thorough compliance with the Court's ruling
that guarantees every student the opportunity to a sound basic
education.
Q:
Have
other states faced school funding problems? What have they done?
A:
All
across the country, people are working to ensure that children
receive a quality education and a chance for a bright future.
In fact, cases similar to CFE's have taken place in 45 other
states - and in the majority of them, the courts have ruled
that some changes need to take place to address school funding
problems. Since there is a lot that campaigns across the country
can learn from one another, CFE has created a national network
called ACCESS to share information and resources that promote
opportunities for a quality education for all children. This
network of advocates, attorneys, educators, researchers and
parents informs CFE's own efforts in New York. To learn more
about ACCESS, visit http://www.schoolfunding.info.
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