Dysfunctional state government dooms chances for Race to the Top education dollars in near future
Wednesday, March 31st 2010, 4:00 AM
ALBANY - New York is unlikely to improve its bid for Race to the Top dollars anytime soon - because state lawmakers have already won their own race to the bottom.
New York's notoriously dysfunctional state government is made more so by looming elections and a politically weak Gov. Paterson, all but dooming New York's chance of winning a next round for the critical education dollars, Albany watchers say.
"The special interests have not gone away," said Barbara Bartoletti, the legislative director for the League of Women Voters of New York.
She noted the warring factions are "going to be giving big bucks to get their agenda done."
The state on Monday failed to win a $700 million pot of educational gold from the Obama administration, setting off a new round of all-too-familiar finger-pointing in the state capital.
Gov. Paterson and charter school supporters blame the rejection on the Legislature's failure to raise the state's cap on charter schools and allow student performance data to be used in evaluating teachers.
The state's powerful teachers unions opposed both measures.
Paterson has pleaded with the Legislature to take action before the second Race to the Top application deadline on June 1.
Lawmakers have been noncommittal.
"That's something that has to be discussed by the senator with members of the (Democratic) conference," said Austin Shafran, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson.
Senate officials argue that charter schools and teacher evaluation
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