NEW YORK –NYCAN: The New York Campaign for Achievement Now, Students for Education Reform, Democrats for Education Reform, District Parent Coordinating Council, Buffalo ReformED, Parent Power Project and Democracy Builders released the following joint statement in support of Governor Cuomo’s proposal to award $250 million in performance grants for high needs New York Schools.

“For years, the special interests in New York State have fought successfully to protect the education bureaucracy at the expense of our students. The results of their efforts speak for themselves: New York State now spends more on education that any other state in the nation but we are only 38th in graduation rates. We can no longer accept an education system where the bureaucracy thrives while our students fail."

“Governor Cuomo has put forward a bold education proposal to change the status quo and create an education system that finally puts students first—the only way that students will truly succeed. A key part of this agenda is the Governor’s proposal to have $250 million in increased education spending allocated through competitive education performance grants. This is exactly the type of strategic approach we need to ensure that we are funding education based on student outcomes, not just continuing to throw money at systems that are failing our students. These grants will reward high needs districts that show they are helping struggling students improve each year; the competition will push all schools to do better and those that succeed will have created established models for success that others can follow.”

“As they have in years past, the special interests are fighting hard against rewarding performance, but there is little outrage over our growing number of failing schools. Instead, these special interests fighting for a blank check to protect the adults at the expense of the students and grow the bureaucracy. The special interests have fought hard to reward the bureaucracy and ignore student achievement, and in doing so created the struggling school system we have today and we cannot let them win again. We encourage parents, students and all New Yorkers who want to change our schools for the better to fight back by signing up at www.NYStudentsFirst.com or participating in the growing conversation with @NYGovCuomo on Twitter by using the #NYStudentsFirst hashtag.”

“Throwing money at the bureaucracy and watching students fail simply doesn’t work. Governor Cuomo’s bold proposal to reward districts that show higher student performance truly puts students first.”

NYCAN, Christina Grant. (516) 749-9462
Students for Education Reform NY, Matt Stern. (443) 812-2212
District Parent Coordinating Council of Buffalo, Sam Radford. (716) 578-3571
Buffalo ReformED, Hannya Boulos. c: (716) 523-8438
Democrats for Education Reform (DFER-NYC), Elizabeth Ling. c: (646) 599-6123
Parent Power Project, Carrie Remis. c: (585) 350-8306
Democracy Builders, Jamaal Nelson. jamaalnelson@yahoo.com