(April 10, 2014) Assemblyman Bill Magee (D-Nelson) announced he helped pass the 2014-15 state budget that increases aid for schools in the 121st Assembly District, while also investing in pre-kindergarten programs and reforming Common Core.
“Our schools have been asked to do more with less for too long,” said Magee. “This year’s state budget is a good first step toward providing much needed aid to assist local schools in providing a quality education while holding the line on taxes.”
Under the 2014-15 state budget, schools in the 121st Assembly District will receive an increase of $12.2 million, or 5.5 percent, over last year’s funding. This increase in funding is needed, however it is not enough, as schools have lost millions in recent years due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). Mr. Magee is calling for immediate passage of A.8720, a bill he is sponsoring that would fully fund schools by repealing the GEA.
“Until we fully repeal the GEA, students and taxpayers will continue to suffer,” said Magee. “We must eliminate the GEA as soon as possible so every student can receive a quality education.”
The budget provides $1.5 billion over five years to support the phase-in of a statewide full-day pre-kindergarten program. Mr. Magee is working to ensure our region receives its fair share of this funding. Supporting pre-kindergarten programs in Central New York is an essential step toward providing children with a strong foundation for their education, Assemblyman Magee noted.
Additionally, the state budget makes important reforms to Common Core, including banning standardized tests for students in grades K-2, delaying the use of test scores on students’ permanent records in grades 3-8 and creating a “Parents Bill of Rights” that limits the sharing of private student data with third-party vendors.
“The Common Core implementation has been a disaster for students, parents and teachers,” said Magee. “Reforming it was a top priority and this year’s budget helps ensure that our kids won’t suffer from undue stress or anxiety.”