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8
Improving the Performance of
Public Institutions in New York
- Campaign for Fiscal Equity $100,000
m
New York, New York
Over 2 years
Michael Rebell, Executive Director
New York State allocates its education aid funds to localities according to an amalgam of approximately
50 different formulas, program grants, minimum aid ratios, and other disparate provisions that
have emerged from decades of political compromise. New York City receives less than 35% of all
state education aid even though 37% of the state's students are enrolled in city schools. In 1993, the
Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a coalition of New York City community school boards and education
advocacy organizations, filed a suit against the state challenging this inequitable distribution of state
funds on behalf of themselves and city school parents and students. Last year, the Court of Appeals
denied the state's motion to dismiss the case, and stated that all New York students have a constitutional
right to a sound basic education consisting of several essential elements. During the coming
year, CFE will prepare the case for trial by: formulating criteria for a sound basic education, documenting
the failure of many New York City public schools to meet those criteria, and developing
arguments to establish a causal link between inadequate state funding and poor school performance.
Based on its review of education finance reforms adopted elsewhere in the country, CFE will outline
several options for a remedial approach that could be implemented here. These options will be widely
disseminated and examined in surveys, conferences, and focus groups around the state in an effort
to develop a consensus position and broad public support. Our grant is in support of this work.