STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR CUOMO’S EDUCATION PERFORMANCE GRANTS FROM COALITION OF NEW YORK EDUCATION GROUPS
NEW YORK – NYCAN: The New York Campaign for Achievement Now, Students for Education Reform, Democrats for Education Reform, District Parent Coordinating Council, Buffalo ReformED, Parent Power Project and Democracy Builders released the following joint statement in support of Governor Cuomo’s proposal to award $250 million in performance grants for high needs New York Schools.
“For years, the special interests in New York State have fought successfully to protect the education bureaucracy at the expense of our students. The results of their efforts speak for themselves: New York State now spends more on education that any other state in the nation but we are only 38th in graduation rates. We can no longer accept an education system where the bureaucracy thrives while our students fail.”
“Governor Cuomo has put forward a bold education proposal to change the status quo and create an education system that finally puts students first–the only way that students will truly succeed. A key part of this agenda is the Governor’s proposal to have $250 million in increased education spending allocated through competitive education performance grants. This is exactly the type of strategic approach we need to ensure that we are funding education based on student outcomes, not just continuing to throw money at systems that are failing our students. These grants will reward high needs districts that show they are helping struggling students improve each year; the competition will push all schools to do better and those that succeed will have created established models for success that others can follow.”