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Unions Fighting Shift in Special Ed State Moneys

NYSUT is fighting to keep the state’s share of special education funding for elementary school kids the same, whereas Spitzer’s new plan aims to reduce state funding.  This is in addition to the slipping promise of additional funding by the state.  The NYSUT blog picks up the story:

“Union: Pre-K cost shift another unfunded mandate.” March 07, 2008. NYSUT: A Union of Professionals. www.nysut.org

Under current law, the state reimburses counties for 59.5 percent of approved costs for preschool special education administration costs. The governor’s proposal would require districts where each special ed child resides to reimburse the child’s resident county — adding a $46 million cost burden onto districts already set to receive less state aid than promised last year.

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Campaign for Fiscal Equity Joins the F.A.I.R. Fight

As stlo7 at RochesterTurning reports, there are new hearings on the matter of Maggie Brooks’ F.A.I.R. plan and whether she and her County Legislature Republican cronies have violated a couple different laws in passing said piece of tripe.  You might remember that, in December, a Judge Ken Fisher ruled in favour of the County.  On the 28th of this month, the schools and NYSUT are beginning hearings in anticipation of appealing that ruling.

And there’s good news for those fighting the good fight for education funding: it seems that the Campaign for Fiscal Equity appears ready to put it’s weight behind efforts to shut down the F.A.I.R. plan.  This is the same organization that sued New York City and the state for proper funding of students in that city.  That agency is already testifying on behalf of Monroe County schools, as you can see in this document (PDF).

There is more to come, as I check out sources I’ve spoken to and get some confirmation of other developments.