New York's Recession Problems Grow: Gov. Paterson Eyes Education Cuts
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September 24, 2009
NEW YORK - With the recession still hanging over the economy, Gov. Paterson says he expects the deficit to grow to $3 billion this year. His administration has ruled out further tax hikes, and analysts say that means cuts in the two largest pieces of the budget: health care and education.
To that solution, education advocates say "No way...no cuts!" New York advocacy director Eric Weltman with the Alliance for Quality Education says test scores are up in high-need school districts all across the state. He warns that this progress could come to a screeching halt if the state cuts funding for programs that give more attention to students who need a little extra help.
"We want to put the burden at this point on the governor and the legislature. Cuts to schools must be off the table - no ifs, ands or buts."
The fiscal year ends March 31. Paterson has ruled out raising taxes and has alerted state agencies to get ready to start making cuts. Schools already are coping with layoffs and overcrowding, Weltman says. He suggests progressive tax measures should be considered rather than another round of cuts.
Tiffany Dews has a son in the first grade in public school in Rochester, and the threat of a new round of cuts to education worries her. She says she has witnessed the progress that has been made, and believes it will continue as long as the state keeps providing ample funding.
"Due to the programs that they have, the city schools have definitely seen a higher increase in the ELA test scores as well as the math scores. So we are definitely extremely worried, because a lot of these programs will be cut in the middle of the school year."
The ELA is the English Literary Arts test. As a result of funding increases that began in 2007, students in high-need districts across the state have made greater gains in their scores on that test than students in average and low-need districts in New York, Dews says.