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January
31, 2003
Governor
George Pataki
New York State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
fax: (518)
474-3767/ 1513
Dear Governor
Pataki:
Introduction
I am / We are . . .
[Introduce yourself. For example, "The ABC organization
has always been interested in public education because ... " -or- "I am
a (parent, activist, resident) who cares about public education because
... "] I /We are
writing to express our dismay that your recently released an Executive
Budget which would cut $1.24 billion, or 8.5 percent, from our state's
schools, with an estimated $449 - $474 million in cuts to the New York
City public schools.
Cuts
to education
Not only are you threatening to cut an unconscionable amount from an already
underfunded school system, but you have proposed cutting the state's two
most successful school aid programs: Early Grade Class Size Reduction
(CSR), and Pre-Kindergarten. High-quality research has consistently found
that low-income, urban students make significant learning gains when placed
in smaller classes in kindergarten or first grade. These gains are sustained
and enhanced if they remain in
smaller classes through third grade. CSR is one of the only
research-based education interventions
funded by the state to help children in low-income neighborhoods. In New
York City, close to 32,000 children from kindergarten to third grade are
in classes averaging 20 students and are benefiting from this improved
instructional environment. As a consequence, more elementary schools in
New York City have been able to get off the SURR list and at a quicker
pace.
Downstate
residents' fair share
Moreover, as you aware, these two programs resulted from the 1997 budget
agreement on STAR and LADDER. The needs of urban parents were balanced
with the needs of homeowners, the majority of whom reside in rural and
suburban parts of the state. So long as the $2 billion STAR school property
relief program remains fully funded, parents in urban districts, many
of whom are renters, should at least have the benefit of better class
sizes for some of their children.
Don't
undermine local effort
We urge you to reconsider cutting the programs which hold the most promise
for continuing to improve the academic performance of our public school
children. We furthermore urge you to reconsider cutting the most seriously
underfunded of all the state's school districts, particularly in light
of the city's overall economic plight in the wake of 9/11. Finally, our
city's elected leaders have raised our taxes — but you should not
diminish this effort this by cutting needed state education funding.
Sincerely,
Your name
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