69´«Ă˝

School & District Management

Pataki Issues Call for Aid to Needy 69´«Ă˝

By David J. Hoff — January 10, 2006 3 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Gov. George E. Pataki promised an ambitious educational agenda last week in his final State of the State Address, but he didn’t answer the $5.6 billion education question: Will the state put up the money to end the 13-year-old lawsuit that led to a court ruling that the state is shortchanging New York City public schools?

Special Report: State of the States

In his list of educational goals for the year, the third-term Republican governor proclaimed a “commitment to providing additional funding to high-need schools in New York City and across the state.”

But he didn’t say how much money he would propose for that purpose or explain whether it would be enough to provide the $5.6 billion in additional aid ordered by a state judge for the city alone. Mr. Pataki is scheduled to unveil his fiscal 2007 budget on Jan. 17.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs, and most legislators, say that the total price tag will rise in any settlement because it would be politically impossible to extend largess to the city but not other districts throughout New York.

While not detailing how he would finance the end to the lawsuit, Mr. Pataki used his 12th State of the State Address to urge lawmakers to pass a myriad of K-12 changes, including those that would give property-tax breaks to senior citizens, add new charter schools, and improve mathematics and science education in the state.

Dodging Issue?

“It is clearly time to realign our educational priorities to meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century,” he said in the Jan. 4 speech to a joint session of the legislature.

School groups, however, were skeptical about the governor’s commitment to providing the finances that they say high-need schools deserve.

“To fulfill his worthy vision, we hope Governor Pataki will engage, rather than continue to dodge, the obligation to fundamentally reform our school finance system,” Timothy G. Kremer, the executive director of the New York State School Boards Association, said in a statement. “Tinkering with tax rebates and charter schools will not suffice. The current funding system places unfair burdens on localities that lack resources to provide their children adequate access to educational opportunity.”

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity, the New York City legal-advocacy group representing parents in Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. State of New York, said in a statement that the governor should dedicate the state’s projected $2 billion surplus toward complying with the court orders.

But the lame-duck governor, who decided not to seek a fourth term in next fall’s election, is unlikely to do that or anything else to dramatically increase school spending, said Richard M. Flanagan, a professor of political science at the College of Staten Island, a branch of the City University of New York.

Conservative Agenda

While Mr. Pataki considers a run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, he’s promoting tax cuts, charter schools, and other issues that appeal to conservative voters.

Other portions of his address highlighted new anti-crime measures—another conservative favorite—and an extended discussion of using alternative fuels such as ethanol, a corn-based gasoline that benefits farmers. Mr. Pataki’s mention of the subject is widely seen as an attempt to lure Iowa voters, who play a large role in determining presidential front-runners because of its first-in-the-nation caucuses.

With national political ambitions playing an important role in Mr. Pataki’s final year in office, large increases in K-12 spending for the state’s urban areas are not playing such a role, Mr. Flanagan said.

“I would imagine that he’s more interested in not embarrassing himself,” Mr. Flanagan said in an interview. “It sounds like a risk-averse strategy. No passing. Use the running game, and wait out the clock.” But legislators will have to address school finances at some point.

In 2003, the New York Court of Appeals—the state’s highest court—ruled that the state fails to assure that all students have “the opportunity for a meaningful high school education.” A trial judge last year ordered the state to increase New York City’s annual K-12 budget by $5.6 billion over four years. That would be a 44 percent increase over current spending. (“Judge Orders Billions for 69´«Ă˝ in N.Y.C.,” Feb. 23, 2005.)

The state’s appellate court is considering Mr. Pataki’s appeal of the order.

So far, Mr. Pataki has been able to avoid meeting the fiscal demands of the lawsuit by appealing any court decision against the state. Given the short time he has left in office, he’s likely to succeed again with that strategy, Mr. Flanagan said.

“If there’s one thing he’s good at, it is finding a way to leave this for his successor,” he said.

Related Tags:

Events

School & District Management Webinar Crafting Outcomes-Based Contracts That Work for Everyone
Discover the power of outcomes-based contracts and how they can drive student achievement.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in 69´«Ă˝
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by 
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?
What issues are keeping K-12 leaders up at night? Join us for EdMarketer Quick Hit: What’s Trending among K-12 Leaders?

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

School & District Management 69´«Ă˝ Want Results When They Spend Big Money. Here's How They're Getting Them
Tying spending to outcomes is a goal many district leaders have. A new model for purchase contracts could make it easier.
7 min read
Illustration of scales balancing books on one end and coins on another.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Reports Strategic Resourcing for K-12 Education: A Work in Progress
This report highlights key findings from surveys of K-12 administrators and product/service providers to shed light on the alignment of purchasing with instructional goals.
School & District Management Download Shhhh!!! It's Underground Spirit Week, Don't Tell the 69´«Ă˝
Try this fun twist on the Spirit Week tradition.
Illustration of shushing emoji.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How My Experience With Linda McMahon Can Help You Navigate the Trump Ed. Agenda
I have a lesson for district leaders from my (limited) interactions with Trump’s pick for ed. secretary, writes a former superintendent.
Joshua P. Starr
4 min read
Vector illustration of people walking on upward arrows, symbolizing growth, progress, and teamwork towards success.
iStock/Getty Images