NY's schools aren't failing; they're starving
In 2006, New York's highest court found that the state was underfunding schools so badly that many couldn't provide the minimum education required by the state Constitution. As a result, the state was required to fund an additional $5 billion to schools so that our schools could offer children a basic education.
But the state has never provided anywhere near the basic aid, called "foundation aid," that is legally due. (A lawsuit challenging New York's failure to pay foundation aid has been underway for several years.) Making matters worse, when the recession hit, the state tapped other funds that were due to schools and redirected them to cover the state's own shortfall, a formula called the "Gap Elimination Adjustment." Five years later, our schools are still being deniedthese GEA funds – even though the recession has ended and the state is running a multi-billion dollar surplus.
As a result, class sizes in underserved schools continue to be excessive and teacher support remains minimal. Textbooks and technology investments, after-school homework clubs, social workers, summer school and more, are all in short supply. Understandably, test scores and graduation rates remain low, as many districts struggle just to get by on what they have.
Failing schools?
The "2015 State of NY's Failing Schools" report, recently issued by the governor's office, calls out 178 New York districts for their low statistics – and yet makes no mention of the state's underfunding and the direct role it has played in keeping challenged districts from succeeding. To the contrary, the report promotes the minor increases the state has given. To appreciate the audacity of the state's spin, consider the Mount Vernon school district. The report points out that Mount Vernon now receives roughly $11.5 million more in state aid than it did five years ago. But the report makes no mention that the state still owes Mount Vernon more than double that amount!
It is plain that the districts in this report never stood a chance to improve. They didn't have and they still don't have the funds legally owed to them to provide a bare minimum education. These schools aren't failing; the state is failing.
Cuomo's solution
Sadly, Gov. Andrew Cuomo now attempts to capitalize on this situation to urge his draconian solution: turn over control of these districts to state-appointed receivers. This means that local boards of education and superintendents would be replaced by outside individuals or corporate entities. The receiver would make decisions on budget, class sizes, staffing, sports, arts, services, investments in technology, busing, aides, etc. Receivers would not be elected by or accountable to the local district residents, Troubled public schools starving, not failing: